Respected Child Psychologist Caught in Kiddie Porn Dragnet

by Jim Kouri, CPP

Federal agents and police officers arrested a well-respected New York child psychologist for possession of violent child pornography. The arrest is part of an international, multi-agency child porno investigation that has netted over 1,200 arrests worldwide, according to officers with the Suffolk County, NY Police Department.

Peter Mies, 57, is a child psychologist who worked at the Building Blocks a preschool in Commack, New York, a suburb of New York City. He sees private child patients at his his Hicksville, New York office, as well. Mies surrendered to Suffolk County detectives and agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a the local police stationhouse. He was charged with one count of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child, a Class E felony. Mies is only the latest of many respected members of his community to be arrested in child pornography cases.

Others arrested include an elementary school teacher, priests, school principals, school coaches, school janitors, camp counselors, campus ministers, pediatricians, circus clowns, Boy Scout leaders, police officers, firefighters, and many others with access to children. Some of these suspects also have been involved in the production and distribution of child pornography.

Mies is the latest individual to be arrested as part of a massive, ICE child pornography investigation targeting an internet billing company based in Minsk, Belarus and its affiliated entities in the United States.

To date, the investigation has resulted in the arrest of more than 1,200 people. In January 2004, the Belarus firm was charged with money laundering as well as providing credit card billing services for 50 child pornography websites worldwide and operating child porn websites of its own. Three bigwigs of the company were arrested in Europe and were extradited to the United States. All three of those extradited pleaded guilty in Newark, N.J., as have four officers of two affiliated companies in Florida and California.

Having dismantled the leadership of the enterprise, ICE agents in domestic offices and 52 Attaché offices worldwide turned their focus to those who purchased child porn subscriptions from these sites in the U.S. and abroad. ICE has arrested more than 237 in the United States and foreign law enforcement, acting on ICE leads, have arrested more than 1,000 individuals in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Japan, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Besides being arrested and subsequently confessing to the crime, Mies forfeited his license to practice psychology and cannot reapply for his license until after he serves 10 years' probation. According to New York State law he also must register as a sex offender.

In addition, a Burnsville, Minnesota man made an initial appearance in federal court after being criminally charged for allegedly using prepubescent girls to produce child pornography in his basement.

ICE special agents and Burnsville Police officers arrested Bruce W. Betcher, 51. He was later charged by the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Minnesota with using a minor to produce sexually explicit images and then distributing them. The local investigation was triggered when ICE special agents in Atlanta executed a federal search warrant at a residence in August, during which a computer was seized.

More than 2,000 images of child pornography were found on the computer’s hard drive. These images were forwarded to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for forensic analysis. Analysis of the images led investigators to believe that some of them — which showed prepubescent girls engaged in explicit sex acts — were taken in the basement of a Twin Cities area home, according to court documents. The investigation led ICE agents, the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children task force, and the Burnsville Police Department to Betcher’s residence.

During the execution of a search warrant by the Burnsville Police Department, officers seized three computers, a digital camera and storage media, and a printed page bearing images of child pornography. ICE Bloomington special agents and Burnsville Police identified six local girls in the photographs. During an interview with law enforcement officials, one of the girls named and identified Bruce Betcher as the photographer.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us   

Delay's Prosecutor Pals with Dan Rather's Daughter and Ben Barnes

by Jim Kouri, CPP

Travis County, Texas, District Attorney Ronnie Earle, who exploded upon the American scene as a result of a grand jury indictment against Republican House Majority Leader Tom Delay, is a known partisan Democrat in Texas. His history of trying to prosecute Republicans such as Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson also is widely known in Texas. The Senator Hutchinson case was thrown out when Earle admitted he could not prosecute the case due to insufficient evidence which in legalese means he had no case. His attempt to do the same thing to Bush campaign consultant Bob Bullock also failed when a grand jury refused to indict Bullock.

The tough, tenacious Ronnie Earle often boasts of his close relationship with former Texas Governor Ben Barnes and Robin Rather and they are listed as supporters and contributors to his reelection campaigns. Barnes is the man who on CBS's 60 Minutes told newsman Dan Rather he pulled strings to get President Bush into the National Guard, and Robin Rather is Dan Rather's daughter, a Democrat activist in Texas. The former CBS anchor is suspected of working closely with the Texas Democrat Committee and in fact it was Texas from which the famous Rathergate forged documents emanated. Rather was forced to resign from CBS after bloggers exposed his prima facie evidence against Bush as a fraud. And Dan was a guest speaker at a Democrat fundraiser for none other than Ronnie Earle

Timing is everything with Ronnie Earle and his friends in the TDC. His attempt at convicting Kay Bailey Hutchinson occurred as she prepared to run for the senate. His attempt at indicting Bush political mentor Bob Bullock occurred around the 2000 presidential election cycle. With the 2006 US Senate and House of Representatives election cycle just around the corner, this is the perfect time to indict the man known as The Hammer by political friends and foes alike. The indictment alone neutralizes the powerful conservative since Delay was forced to step down as the House Majority Leader. Democrats never tried to keep it a secret that if Delay was out of the way their prospects for capturing the House of Representative become more likely.

If anyone doubts Earle's partisanship, then perhaps they should read local newspaper reports about his vitriolic speech at a Democrat Party fundraiser last May.
Ronnie Earle, speaking at the fundraiser, uttered vicious comments about Delay. Earle went as far as discussing the case with the audience as he told the cheering crowd that he'd get Tom Delay. He also disclosed a supposedly confidential discussion he had with another man whom he tried to indict but failed. In fact, Ronnie Earle's attempts at convicting Republicans are almost laughable.

Even the indictment instrument in the Delay case is in itself suspect. With only six paragraphs, the indictment provides little if any information or evidence of wrongdoing. Legal experts from former judges to former prosecutors and defense attorneys are scratching their heads wondering what kind of indictment has Ronnie Earle secured from a grand jury? How is Delay's legal team supposed to mount a defense against such a vague document?

The indictment for conspiracy doesn't even mention what crime Delay conspired to commit. The campaign finance law prohibits political parties from accepting financial contributions from corporations 60 days before an election. The allegation facing Delay is that he accepted money from a PAC (political action committee). A PAC is not a corporation as stipulated in the campaign finance law, which may be ruled unconstitutional anyway once it reaches the US Supreme Court.

In defending Earle, Democrats point to the fact that he has indicted Democrat politicians, but a look at those indictments strongly suggests they were against Earle's political enemies. In Austin, Texas, he is recognized as the District Attorney for life since few will attempt to run against him for fear they'll be indicted on some trumped up charge. His supporters claim he even indicted himself. But if he felt he violated the law why didn't he have another prosecutor indict him?

Once the mainstream news media stop celebrating the indictment of a powerful Republican, perhaps they will make at least some effort to answer questions for the American people -- all the people, not just like-minded Liberals. Here are some questions that need to be answered:

What did the prosecutor say during his speech at a Democrat fundraiser about the Delay case and about the ongoing investigation into Delay's campaign finances? In most states such conduct is an ethics violation punishable by disbarment.

Did the prosecutor contact any Democrat Party bigwigs such as DNC chairman Howard Dean, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Harry Reid, etc. and discuss the Delay investigation? Did they contact him? Did Earle have contact with state Democrat leaders prior to the indictment? What did he discuss with his friend Ben Barnes, a known Bush hater whose own daughter called him liar on several occasions when he changed his story about Bush's National Guard enlistment?

What conversations about the case, if any, did Earle have with Dan Rather's daughter Robin? Did he discuss the case with Dan who attended a 2000 Democrat Party fundraiser for Earle?

Why did it take so many grand juries before Earle finally got the indictment he wanted? What was the evidence Earle presented to that fifth grand jury that caused them to indict Delay?

In his case against Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, it's been alleged that Earle was involved in unlawful and unethical practices during the investigation of the conservative senatorial candidate. What were these questionable activities? Why were they not subject to further investigation?

Why is Earle discussing cases and smearing unindicted Bob Bullock, who was George Bush's political mentor, during a Democrat fundraiser? The grand jury in the Bullock case refused to indict yet Ronnie Earle discussed this case at a partisan event?

Why is the published indictment so short on substantial allegations? Why is there practically no mention of Tom Delay?

As far as media coverage, don't hold your breath for the news media to give this case fair coverage. A recent poll of police commanders overwhelmingly (92%) said they don't believe the news media are fair and balanced in their coverage. Tom Delay has a real fight on his hands. He must do battle with an out-of-control political hack masquerading as an officer of the court; with a deranged political party that is out of power and can only lie, spin the truth and attempt to jail their opponents; and with a news media that often forgets they're not part of the Democrat National Committee.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Congressman Charles Rangel: Same As He Ever Was

by Jim Kouri, CPP


Congressman Charles Rangel is in the news again for making the most outrageous statements one can imagine. From comparing President George W. Bush to arguably the worst racist in recent history, Bull Conner, to alleging that blacks are the cannon fodder for the US military, each day brings another Rangelism to national attention. Any clear thinking person can easily disprove Rangel's statements by simply checking the facts. But Congressman Rangel never let's the facts get in the way of a good soundbite.

The problem is that Rangel's statements resonate within the African-American community, which is already being fed a steady diet of lies, half-truths and conspiracy theories by the likes of Rev. Jesse Jackson, former President Bill Clinton -- America's first black president -- and the biggest civil rights blowhard in the country, Rev. Al Sharpton. We are told by the mainstream media that there's a high degree of anger within the black community and these intellectual giants in America's newsrooms fail to see their part in creating that anger.

Wouldn't you be angry if you were constantly told America hates you, white Americans want to keep you impoverished, many of your fellow citizens don't care if you're sick or dying, and the United States establishment wants to exploit you? Most folks, white or black, would be angry after being barraged with such messages on a regular basis. And Charlie Rangel can be always be counted on to capitalize on that anger.

Well, let's take a look at the real Charlie Rangel as evidenced in a little known story of how a New York City detective knocked the robust politician on his keister following the utterance of a Rangelism in the 1960s:

Sidney was one of New York City’s first African-American detectives. In fact, he was so good at policing in the city's toughest neighborhoods, that he was promoted to the coveted rank of 1st Grade Detective in the NYPD, the youngest in New York's history. A former Marine -- one of the first blacks to be accepted into the Marine Corps in 1945 -- Sid was your consummate police officer. Tough, relentless and proud Sid tempered his tough street persona with intelligence and a sense of fairness that won the respect of his superiors, his fellow cops and the citizens he served. Sid came from a black family of achievement with one brother becoming a police captain and another serving as a colonel in the US Army.

Sidney saw action in Korea at about the same time as Rangel took to the battlefield with the US Army. While Rangel brags about his military service and being awarded a Purple Heart for wounds he received, Sid believed a good marine does the wounding and killing not the other way around. He openly admired General George Patton and Sid repeatedly viewed the motion picture "Patton" in which, during the opening monologue by George C. Scott portraying General Patton, he says, "No one wins a war by dying for his country. You win a war by making the other poor son-of-a-bitch die for his country." Sid was a blood and guts Marine and a blood and guts cop. I know. I partnered with him during his later years.

While still a young detective, Sidney arrested a black man who was dealing drugs on streets and schoolyards of Harlem. The drug dealer sold heroin to black youngsters who were being told over and over again since they were knee high that their lives were hopeless in an America that at best cared little for them, at worst wanted them in prison or dead. They were indoctrinated with this rhetoric by the likes of Charlie Rangel, white liberals and their echo chamber, the mainstream news media. Detective Sid had little compassion for a man who sold drugs to black kids.

At the time, Charlie Rangel was an up-and-coming political hack in the local Democrat Club and a lawyer more adept at shooting off his mouth than arguing his position on jurisprudence. Rangel ended up representing the drug-pushing punk -- whose parents, by the way, were financially very well off. The punk's dad was a bigtime contributor to the local Democrat Party and a supporter of Rangel for congressman which led to Rangel acting on behalf of an unrepentant drug pusher. Ironically, Rangel later would become chairman of Congress' Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control.

So Charles Rangel, attorney-at-law, visited my partner Sid in order to get him to back off and perhaps change some of the testimony should the case go to trial. The young detective told Rangel, “No way. That skell sells poison to kids.” At that point Charlie Rangel, a known bully in Harlem and northern Manhattan, called Sid an Uncle Tom and got in his face. The six-foot tall detective hauled off and bopped him right in his face and Rangel went down. After getting up from the floor and brushing himself off, the opulent future congressman made some empty threats of retaliation, however Rangel never filed departmental charges of police brutality. Sid believed Charlie Rangel knew if he did he would find himself in a jackpot over witness tampering and he may have had to kiss his political career goodbye.

So now whenever you see Congressman Charles Rangel on television ridiculing the president or denigrating the US military, think about a fat lawyer lying flat on his back at the feet of a patriot, a leader and one of the best cops who ever breathed.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

MND Exclusive: Counterintelligence Here and Abroad

by Jim Kouri, CPP

The counterintelligence function involves protecting the country, as well as intelligence agencies, from the activities of foreign intelligence services. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has principal responsibility for countering the activities of foreign intelligence services within the United States in order to protect both classified US Government information and proprietary information held by US industry. The CIA is responsible for coordinating US counterintelligence activities abroad. Each of the military departments also has a counterintelligence element that operates domestically and overseas.

Each of these elements has offensive and defensive missions. Offensively, they attempt to recruit agents within foreign intelligence services to ascertain what, if any, operations are being undertaken against the United States; they monitor the activities of known or suspected agents of foreign intelligence services; and they undertake operations to ascertain the targets and modus operandi of foreign intelligence services. Defensively, they investigate cases of suspected espionage and prepare analyses for government and industry concerning the foreign intelligence threat. The FBI has principal jurisdiction to investigate suspected espionage within the United States, although all intelligence agencies maintain internal capabilities to undertake preliminary inquiries of their own employees. Military counterintelligence elements have concurrent jurisdiction to carry out counterintelligence investigations of their respective military personnel.

Counterintelligence, as a function of intelligence agencies, however, goes much beyond detecting and monitoring the activities of foreign intelligence services and investigating employees suspected of espionage. Counterintelligence is an integral part of the entire intelligence process. All agencies that undertake intelligence collection, whether through human or technical means, must be constantly on guard that what they are collecting is genuine. This requires continuous evaluation of their sources as well as the information gathered from them. Intelligence analysts who are familiar with the totality of information on a particular topic are often in a position to detect anomalies.

Historically, intelligence agencies have not performed this crucial function very well. Virtually all have suffered severe losses due to a failure to recognize anomalous behavior on the part of their own employees. Some have also had problems recognizing anomalies in the behavior of their sources or in the appearance or actions of their targets. The Aldrich Ames spy case revealed serious shortcomings in both categories.

In the wake of the Ames case, the Intelligence Community made sweeping changes to its counterintelligence infrastructure. A new policy board, reporting to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, was established to coordinate counterintelligence activities and resolve interagency disagreements, and a "national counterintelligence center" was created to share and evaluate information regarding foreign intelligence threats. In addition, the CIA made numerous improvements to its counterintelligence and security posture.

Perhaps more than any other function of intelligence, counterintelligence has undergone the most significant change over the last two years. The question is whether these changes will have a long-term positive effect.

Because counterintelligence is so crucial to the success of the entire enterprise, however, the Intelligence Community must sustain the renewed emphasis recently placed on this function. Counterintelligence must be viewed not as an annoying intrusion but rather as an integral part of the intelligence process. It must focus not only on protecting our own sensitive information, but equally on efforts to manipulate our collection and analysis, through double agents or other means. This requires a certain openness of mind and a willingness continually to balance the conclusions drawn from intelligence with the possibility of deliberate deception by a target.

Sources: Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Security Institute, American Federation of Police, National Association of Chiefs of Police

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and crime magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer, Campus Law Enforcement Journal, and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional.

Homeland Security: Concerns Over Training Continue

by Jim Kouri, CPP

Training can play a key role in helping the Department of Homeland Security successfully address the challenge of transformation and cultural change and help ensure that its workforce possesses the knowledge and skills needed to effectively respond to current and future threats. This includes the training offered to local police agencies in order to achieve maximum first-response capabilities.

The DHS has taken several positive steps toward establishing an effective department-wide approach to training, yet significant challenges remain. Progress was made in addressing department-wide training issues, but efforts are still in the early stages and face several challenges. Actions taken by DHS include issuing its first training strategic plan in July 2005, establishing training councils and groups to increase communication across agencies, and directly providing training for specific department-wide needs.

However, several challenges may impede DHS from achieving its departmental training goals. First, the sharing of training information across components is made more difficult by the lack of common or compatible information management systems and a commonly understood training terminology. Second, authority and accountability relationships between the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer and organizational components are not sufficiently clear. Third, DHS's planning may be insufficiently detailed to ensure effective and coordinated implementation of departmentwide training efforts. Finally, according to training officials, DHS lacks resources needed to implement its departmental training strategy.

Examples of planning and evaluation of training demonstrate some elements of strategic practice. Specific training practices at both the component and departmental levels may provide useful models or insights to help others in DHS adopt a more strategic approach to training. We found that some components of DHS apply these practices, while others do not. For example, Customs and Border Protection aligns training priorities with strategic goals through planning and budgeting processes.

In the area of evaluation, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center obtains feedback from both the trainee and the trainee's job supervisor to inform training program designers in order to make improvements to the program curriculum. Training has been used to help DHS's workforce as it undergoes transformation and cultural change. The creation of DHS from different legacy organizations, each with its own distinct culture, has resulted in significant cultural and transformation challenges for the department.

At the departmental level, one of the ways DHS is addressing these challenges is by encouraging the transformation to a shared performance-based culture through the implementation of its new human capital management system, MAXHR. DHS considers training to be critical to effectively implementing this initiative and defining its culture. Toward that end, the department is providing a wide range of training, including programs targeted to executives, managers, and supervisors. For example, at the component level, CBP has developed cross-training to equip employees with the knowledge needed to integrate inspection functions once carried out by three different types of inspectors at three separate agencies.

TRAINING FOR LOCAL COPS AND FIRST RESPONDERS

One sore point which continues to fester is the lack of training for local first-responders especially in suburban and rural areas of the country. In a survey of police commanders and sheriffs across the nation, the National Association of Chiefs of Police discovered that 70 percent of the survey respondents said they received federal training to meet the increased threat of terrorism. That's the good news.

The bad news is that only 50 percent of these respondents said their departments participated in any state or local terrorism response simulation. This leaves any police chiefs concerned. Off the record, several police commanders claim the fault lies not as much with the federal government as it does with the state and local political leaders.

"I know our state got some of the homeland security grant money, but what it's been spent on? I have no idea, " says one police chief who spoke on condition of anonymity. He went on to say that he's seen little difference in his department since September 11, 2001.

A police commander in New Jersey was even harsher in his assessment. He claims that New Jersey received millions of dollars from the federal government, yet, with the exception of the state police, he's seen limited resources in his jurisdiction. The disheartened chief believes New Jersey didn't take homeland security seriously. He points to a recent scandal in which the governor of New Jersey appointed his alleged male lover to the position of State Homeland Security Director. The SHS director had absolutely no law enforcement or firefighting experience and no command experience. It appeared Homeland Security Director was one of the patronage positions many local politicians have to reward friends, relatives and intimates.

Unfortunately, because of political harping by Liberals that the federal government isn't giving enough money to state governments -- especially by the likes of Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer -- more is being done to distribute money that providing federal oversight on how the money is spent. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, for instance, it was discovered federal money may have been misappropriated by Louisiana officials to buy an airplane, open a casino, purchase fur coats, etc. An investigation will hopefully reveal the nature of this misappropriation of funds.

When a large group of police commanders and officers wished to travel to Israel to study their counterterrorism and response techniques, they were told their local agencies wouldn't pay for the training, transportation and housing. Many of these police officers paid for the program out of their own pockets rather than play the political games. One cop said his city's mayor did not wish his police department to be identified with Israel. The Liberal mayor is said to have supported measures to coerce Israel into appeasing the Palestinians.

The bottomline appears to be simple: a more active role on the part of the feds to oversee training and expenditures when it comes to federal cash being used by local politicians.

Sources: Government Accounting Office, National Association of Chiefs of Police, Department of Homeland Security

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us
   

Paul Krugman, Sherlock Holmes and Newsweek

by Jim Kouri, CPP

In today's New York Times, columnist Paul Krugman raises the question of cronyism within the US government. The neo-Marxist economist and darling of the Times' op-ed page readers, using deductive prowess even Sherlock Holmes would envy, has discovered cronyism in the Bush Administration especially within FEMA. That's right, Krugman and the New York Times are blowing the lid off cronyism. Apparently politicicians are hiring people for key positions because they are friends and supporters. I'm shocked! I've got to lie down.

Krugman, of course, points to former FEMA chief Mike Brown to further his argument, carefully avoiding the fact that prior to Hurricane Katrina Brown successfully responded to four disasters. But he does make a point: Mr. Brown's work background and resume do not lend themselves to confidence that he is capable of responding to enormous disasters or terrorist attacks. He's therefore a crony. Let's give Krugman that much.

But this intellectual giant of America's "newspaper of record" has apparently never seen cronyism before President George Bush stole the election from Al Gore, another Krugman allegation. (Although two weeks ago, Krugman was forced to admit that he falsely claimed media recounts in Florida showed Al Gore winning the 2000 presidential election.) In fact, a Lexus-Nexus search indicates Krugman never even mentioned cronyism in his rantings during the Clinton Administration.

He never wrote about Clinton's FEMA appointments such as Buddy Young, whose education consisted of a high school diploma and a certificate in public administration from the University of Arkansas. His emergency-management experience consisted of warning Bill that Hillary was on the way during Bill Clinton's escapades in the Arkansas state house. Or what about Craig Livingstone, Clinton's chief of White House security? His security experience consisted of work as a bouncer at nightclubs and his ability to not get caught as far as hanky-panky in his campaign fundraising for Clinton. Livingtone is best remembered for the mysterious appearance of hundreds of FBI files in the White House. Krugman was MIA during that story. He -- and the NY Times -- had bigger fish to fry -- Rep. Newt Gingrich.

And we also have the biggest crony in the Clinton Administration: Sandy "Pants" Berger. Berger was rewarded with the key National Security Advisor position for his work getting Clinton into the Oval Office. Prior to that, he was a smooth-operating, smooth-talking Washington lobbyist. Mr. Krugman, was Berger not a crony? I mean, the guy was a dud. He got nabbed for a sloppy espionage operation whereby he shoved classified documents into his pants and allegedly into his socks. And we trusted this inept thief with US national security?

Let's be frank, Krugman exposing cronyism today is more about his hatred for Bush than his displeasure over government cronyism. It's part and parcel of the elite media's continuing goal of hurting a president they despise. I agree that we should end cronyism, but let's start with the minority Democrat Party and work our way up through the ranks of the Republican Party. In addition, it's relative as to whom is a crony and whom is not. I'll bet, if I wished, I could make a good case that Paul Krugman is a crony at the New York Times. Cronyism is not the issue at the NY Times; George Bush is the issue.

The latest issue of Newsweek makes my point handsomely. One lead story is really a swipe at Bush. The title says it all: "Government Officials' Overreaction to Hurricane Rita Still Not Enough to Convince American's US Government Is Competent." Now, is that a mouthful or what? Newsweek couldn't even wait till the lead paragraph to criticize the government a/k/a George W. Bush, they do it in the title. Okay, they have a right to make that argument. But in the same issue, Newsweek interviews Fidel Castro's "Little Me," Presidente Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. Chavez has many choice words for Newsweek regarding America's president: He calls the Bush Administration "terrorists," causing one to suspect Chavez's telephone number is on the DNC fax list for talking points.

Chavez tells Newsweek's chief correspondent Lally Weymouth, “… this US Administration — the current government — is a terrorist administration....” Okay, so a communist thinks Bush and the US government are terrorists. No big scoop. Lally, sweetheart, as far as garnering a Pulitzer nomination, you're not even close with that tidbit, so I'd set aside that acceptance speech if I were you.

This next quote in Newsweek is what exposes Lally Weymouth as a hack: Chavez states, "Now, before the hurricane, they knew that Katrina was coming, and the
government did not evacuate people. In Cuba, when they know a hurricane is coming, chickens, hens and people are all evacuated.” Lally, where's the follow-up question? When hurricanes hit Cuba, to where are these millions of Cubans evacuated? To Puerto Rico? St. Thomas? Jamaica? Venezuela? Miami? Lally, where does Castro stash millions of Cubans? Here's a hint: Cuba is an island. Nevermind the people (notice that the communist mentioned chickens and hens first), what's Castro doing with all those chickens during a hurricane? And, Lally, why is Chavez talking about Cuba? He's the President of Venezuela.

Let's be open-minded. Perhaps we can learn something from Castro about disaster management. Of course, to be honest, Castro doesn't really worry about disaster management (except for where he will safely hide till the danger blows over) because Castro doesn't worry about the news media in Cuba asking meanspirited questions. If they let the cat out of the bag following a devastating natural disaster, the journalists may be evacuated -- permanently. What nonsense it is to even attempt comparing US and Cuban disaster response. Katrina and Rita recovery and rebuilding will cost billions and billions of dollars. I can rebuild Cuba after a hurricane with 30 bucks. The only problem I'd have is in distinguishing hurricane damage from the normal condition of Cuba's infrastructure. "Amigo, that chicken coup goes there and that pile of garbage goes here. Oh, that's not garbage? It's a soup kitchen?"

It didn't matter to Newsweek where they put Cubans during a disaster. What mattered was Lally Weymouth and her keepers at Newsweek discovering an opportunity to bash Bush even if it means using a communist quasi-dictator parroting DNC talking points to do it.

The print media doesn't have a monopoly on the ridiculous and disingenuous. During Bush's press conference in Texas prior to Hurricane Rita, NBC News' own intellectual giant, David Gregory, asked the President of the United States, "Don't you think you'll be getting in the way?"

This is the same David Gregory who speculated that Bush was too slow to react to Hurricane Katrina. Now he found President Bush staying on top of things, and Gregory worries Bush get be in the way. In the way of what, David? In the way of a good Bush-bashing news story? Even Gregory's accusatory tone displays an obvious disdain for our president. I don't recall hearing any journalists asking New York's Senator Hillary Clinton if she feared getting in the way during her photo-ops after Katrina. And when Bill Clinton showed up, there was no media concern with him getting in the way. In fact, they gushed like school girls over The Beatles appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1962.

I started this column with Paul Krugman, let me end with him. In his article about Bush cronyism, Krugman touts a Clinton lie. Krugman writes, "The lethally inept response to Hurricane Katrina revealed to everyone that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which earned universal praise during the [Clinton Administration]...." Yep, Clinton didn't get Earth's praise, Martians, Venusians even the Klingons praised FEMA.

When was FEMA universally praised, Sherlock Krugman? Not after Hurricane Floyd, that's for sure. Remember Hurricane Floyd? That's the one where even Rev. Jesse Jackson took issue with Bill Clinton's FEMA boss because he didn't respond for close to a month to the needs of thousands and thousands of Americans left homeless in the wake of Floyd. And a real crony -- Buddy Young -- was a bigwig at FEMA.

Americans should rethink that "newspaper of record'' stuff as far as the New York Times is concerned. We'd be better off having the National Enquirer as "newspaper of record."

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Special Report: It's a Dog's Life: Canines Pitch In During Rita Recovery

by Jim Kouri, CPP

No sooner had many canine search and rescued dogs trained by National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (NDSDF) returned home with their handlers from the Hurricane Katrina deployment, than they were once again called out by their task forces in response to the nationally significant Hurricane Rita, the third most intense hurricane recorded, making landfall along the Gulf Coast between Texas and Louisiana.

Of the 26 NDSDF-trained canines deployed during Hurricane Katrina, 17 canines along with their human partners are located in various parts of Texas, as part of several of the 17 FEMA Task Forces deployed and in position for rescue efforts in the hurricane's aftermath.

NDSDF continues to provide more canine search teams than any other organization in nation to respond to any man-made or natural disaster whether of national, regional or local significance. To date, NDSDF is responsible for training 25% of the nationally advanced certified canines in the United States.

While advanced evacuation efforts seem successful in lessening the chances of loss of life, concern exists for those individuals who for various reasons may have remained behind in dangerous conditions. These canine search teams remain a key component of the team's rescue response -- as these highly trained dogs are able to "clear" each area to make sure no one has been left alive in the debris.

Their remarkable sense of smell and unparalleled ability to safely navigate dangerous terrain, faster and more safely than any other "tool" in the first responder's toolbox, make search dogs an invaluable asset to the rescue efforts.

National Disaster Search Dog Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission to produce the most highly trained canine disaster search teams in the nation. The Foundation is responsible for training over 25% of all of the Advanced FEMA canine search teams in the United States and provided 33% of the teams deployed on September 11, 2001 to the World Trade Center.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Catholic Clergyman Charged with Sex Crimes Involving Minors

by Jim Kouri, CPP

An American-born Catholic monk from Mexico City made his initial appearance in US District Court in San Diego this month to face charges that he used the internet to attempt to induce a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity and that he attempted to transfer pornographic material to a minor. As with Catholic priests, monks are sworn to a vow of celibacy.

Earl John Place, 61, was named in a two-count federal indictment handed down in San Diego on September 7 that was unsealed upon his arrest on September 13. The charges are the result of an investigation by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement with assistance from Mexican law enforcement officials.

The indictment against Place alleges that between June and September of this year, he used the mail and a computer to attempt to induce a young boy to engage in unlawful sexual activity and that on August 21, 2005, he attempted to transfer obscene material to a minor under 16 years of age.

Place is currently in federal custody in San Diego after being arrested in Mexico City by Mexican law enforcement officials September 13. Place was immediately expelled from Mexico by Mexican immigration officials.

“No one has license to sexually exploit children, period,” said United States Attorney Carol Lam. “This is true regardless of where a person lives or what station in life he occupies.”

“The Internet does not recognize international borders,” said Michael Unzueta, special agent-in-charge for ICE investigations in San Diego. “This investigation is a perfect example of why cooperation with our law enforcement counterparts in Mexico is so vitally important.”

Place is due back in federal court September 15 at 1:45 p.m. before Magistrate Judge Brooks for a detention hearing. The charges against Place are part of Operation Predator, an ongoing ICE enforcement initiative to identify, investigate, arrest and, in the case of foreign nationals, deport child sex predators. Since the initiative began in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested more than 6,200 individuals nationwide, including more than 1,600 in California.

ICE Offers Help to Parents and Civic Groups

The ICE Community Outreach Coordinator position was created in January 2004 and resides within the ICE Office of Policy and Planning. The ICE Community Outreach Coordinator is responsible for establishing relationships with community leaders and coordinating meetings with ICE to discuss community issues. The Coordinator serves as a focal point within ICE for the community to raise issues. The ICE Community Outreach Coordinator is Mrs. Su Daly. Community questions, issues and concerns should be forwarded to her at su.daly@dhs.gov or 202-514-7935.


Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Second Amendment Hypocrites: Senators Schumer and Feinstein Pack Heat

by Jim Kouri, CPP

A recent poll conducted by the National Association of Chiefs of Police indicated that almost 64 percent of police commanders and sheriffs favor a law allowing private citizens to carry concealed firearms for protection. Almost 73 percent said that citizens should not be restricted from purchasing more than one weapon, and 96 percent say they believe criminals obtain firearms from illegal sources.

Unfortunately most states -- especially those called Blue States due to their Liberal-leanings -- continue to prohibit private citizens from carrying concealed handguns.

At the same time, there are outspoken opponents of gun ownership, such as Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Diane Feinstein (D-CA), who are carrying concealed weapons, according to WABC Radio's Mark Levin. Levin, a recognized constitutional expert, heads the Landmark Legal Foundation. The LLF's goal is to protect American's from unreasonable and illegal government intrusions and violations of the US Constitution, including the Second Amendment.

The mainstream news media have been aware that several antigun proponents are carrying concealed firearms but have failed to expose this hypocrisy. This writer's efforts to discover how many other anti-gunners are also packing heat -- a right they wish to deny other citizens -- met with limited results.

Not only does Schumer carry a handgun, the New York City Police Department also provides armed escorts for the good senator. In fact, the Government Accounting Office -- the investigative arm of the US Congress -- slammed Schumer's use of police resources for personal protection. It's clear that Schumer believes he's special. He wishes to ban private citizens' ownership of firearms, while he enjoys layers of protection.

"No wonder Chuckie Schumer shoots his mouth off so much -- he's able to protect himself," says a 25-year police veteran.

Also, a check of Pistol License records shows that Senator Schumer possesses an "unrestricted" pistol permit, a rarity in New York City. Licenses are distributed in different categories in the Big Apple: Target Permits allow only use of a firearm at a licensed firing range; Premises Permits allow weapons to be kept in a home or apartment; Restricted Permits allow the gunowner to carry their firearms concealed but only within the purview of their job (security, jewelers, armored car guards, etc.). So it's evident that Senator Schumer has two sets of rules -- one for Americans and one for himself.

And then we have Senator Diane Feinstein on the Left Coast who possesses something more rare than a conservative Republican in San Francisco -- an unrestricted concealed weapons permit. Apparently without shame, she participated in a citywide gun turn-in program that was intended to create some kind of statue from the donated guns that were to be melted down. One of her police body guards let it slip that she contributed a cheap model for the meltdown, while retaining her .357 magnum revolver for her own personal self-defense.

Hypocrisy is not limited to politicians when it comes to the Second Amendment. For Example, well-known Washington-based columnist, Carl Rowan, often wrote about the ills of firearms ownership. Until, that is, he shot and wounded a teenager who trespassed on his property. The white teenaged boy claimed he wanted to try Rowan's swimming pool. Rowan, an African-American, retaliated with deadly force using a firearm. That's when the news came out that Carl Rowan, gun-control advocate, actually possessed a license to own firearms.

Another example is the loudmouth entertainer, Rosie O'Donnell, who once ran roughshod over conservative actor Tom Selleck because of his stance supporting the Second Amendment. Although Ms. O'Donnell doesn't carry a gun, she has three armed bodyguards who protect her, her wife and her children, something the vast majority of hardworking Americans could never afford. Isn't it comforting to know all these Liberals are looking out for us?

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us   

Mexican Crime Family Expands Throughout United States

by Jim Kouri, CPP

The Castorena Family Organization is a large-scale criminal organization with more than 100 key members who oversee cells of 10 to 20 individuals in cities across the United States, according to public court documents filed by the US government in Colorado and in other judicial districts around the country. Several of the senior leaders of the organization are believed to be based in Mexico, although they enter the US occasionally to oversee the operations of lieutenants of the crime family.

The organization is alleged to be involved in the manufacture and distribution of high-quality counterfeit identity documents, including social security cards, birth certificates, marriage certificates, US and Mexican driver licenses, Matricula Consular ID cards, resident alien cards, work authorization documents, proof of vehicle insurance cards, temporary vehicle registration documents, and utility bills (many states require driver license applicants to show utility bills as proof of residence).

Court documents also indicate that the CFO started out in Los Angeles in the late 1980s, primarily manufacturing and selling counterfeit alien registration and social security cards. The organization soon expanded its counterfeit document operations to other cities across the United States, including New York City, Chicago, Las Vegas, Denver, Atlanta, Albuquerque, and other cities.

Over the past decade, the CFO has been managed by six Castorena-Ibarra siblings: Pedro, Alfonso, Jose, Maria, Francisco Javier, and Raquel. During the last several years, three of these siblings, Pedro, Maria and Francisco Javier, have maintained direct involvement in the counterfeiting operations of the CFO in Denver and elsewhere. In recent years, several of these siblings have been arrested and prosecuted in the United States. Others have fled to Mexico to avoid US prosecution.

The CFO has been the target of federal investigations in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, San Antonio, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Denver, Lincoln, NE, and Des Moines, IA.

For example, Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigations of the CFO in Los Angeles in the late 1990s resulted in the seizure of millions of counterfeit documents with an estimated street value of $20 million. The documents were linked to more than 400 investigations and seizures in more than 50 cities in 33 states. The American Express Corporation attributed more than $2 million in losses to counterfeit identification documents that were traced to the CFO just in Los Angeles.

In Denver, ICE investigations into the CFO have resulted in the criminal prosecution of more than 50 individuals. Dozens of additional members of the CFO in Denver have been arrested and deported to Mexico, Colombia, and El Salvador. ICE agents in Denver have also been responsible for the seizure of at least 20 computerized laboratories affiliated with the CFO and used to manufacture high-quality counterfeit identity documents. Agents have also seized 21 computers, 21 silk screen printing templates used to produce counterfeit documents, and nine handguns.

Court documents indicate that CFO cells in various US cities are exceptionally well organized. CFO cell leaders typically keep schedules with the names of each counterfeit document vendor and the times they are to report to a designated area to sell fake documents. The local cell leaders also record the number and type of false documents sold by vendors during their “shifts,” as well the funds collected for each transaction.

The vendors are allowed to keep a portion of the proceeds, with the remainder passed to the local cell leader. Cell leaders, in turn, pass on a portion of the proceeds to the senior leaders of the CFO. Senior CFO leaders charge a “rent” or “franchise” fee of as much as $15,000 per month for cell leaders to operate in a particular US city. These funds and other proceeds of counterfeit document sales are funneled to Mexico and other locations for those overseeing the CFO.

The organization moves its funds through three primary methods. Often, funds are wire transferred via money transmitter businesses. In other cases, bulk cash and checks are moved through express parcel services. In addition, the organization often employs couriers who physically transport US currency across US borders and between US cities.

Sources: US Department of Justice, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, Denver, CO Police Department, National Association of Chiefs of Police

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

MND Special Report: FEMA Officials Claim They're On the Mark for Rita

by Jim Kouri, CPP

The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in conjunction with other federal agencies, continues to prepare for Hurricane Rita, according to a spokesperson in the DHS press office. In addition, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has designated Rear Admiral Larry Hereth, U.S. Coast Guard, as Principal Federal Official (PFO) for incident management purposes during the response and recovery operations for Hurricane Rita in Texas.

FEMA and federal agencies -- such as the US Coast Guard and the US Department of Defense -- are pre-positioning supplies and materials in the surrounding affected areas and potential landfall areas of the storm. FEMA is urging residents in the Gulf Coast states to continue paying close attention to Hurricane Rita weather reports and to follow the instructions of local officials. The DHS officials state they're overseeing the following:

45 truckloads of water and 45 truckloads ice and 25 truckloads of meals are pre-staging at federal facilities in Texas.

Over 400 medical team personnel and 14 Urban Search & Rescue Task Forces, almost 800 personnel, are pre-staging in Texas.

The state of Florida has released all of FEMA's pre-positioned teams and assets and FEMA is in the process of moving personnel and commodities to Texas.

13 U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) aircraft in Corpus Christi and Houston are being readied to evacuate and relocate to a staging position to quickly respond once the storm passes.

Additional USCG relief aircrews and aircraft from around the country will begin arriving in staging areas in Texas as early as today. An additional 4 HH-60 Jayhawk helicopters are being pre-staged in San Antonio.

6 major USCG cutters are in the Gulf of Mexico avoiding storm. Cutters will be pre-positioned to follow the storm to provide immediate support for search and rescue, command and control and waterways assessment. USCG cutter Dauntless, based in Galveston, left port yesterday after evacuating family members. Dauntless is in the Gulf of Mexico heading south to avoid the storm to be in a position to follow the storm.

More than 400 additional USCG personnel are surging to support the response and hundreds more are on alert and ready to respond after landfall.

USCG disaster assistance teams and environmental pollution strike teams are assembling in Louisiana to be in a position to move into the affected area once the storm passes. USCG liaison officers have been assigned to state and local emergency operation centers in Texas and Louisiana.

Infrastructure Protection division is assessing the potential consequences to critical infrastructure located in the storm's projected path, along with the requirements to secure and restore these facilities in the storm’s aftermath. Based upon these assessments, DHS will work with private sector partners and state and local government officials during the recovery phase.

Nearly 3,500 National Guardsmen in Texas are on state active duty and the governor has authorized the activation of up to 5,000 of the more than 10,000 National Guardsmen currently available in the state. Approximately 1,352 Texas National Guardsmen serving in Louisiana have returned to Texas in anticipation of the storm.

The Department of Defense assigned 6 heavy-lift helicopters at Ft. Sam Houston, TX and 6 heavy-lift helicopters at Ft. Worth, TX for search and rescue support. DOD is making available 2,000 active duty “security forces” such as military police.

The Transportation Security Administration has sent an additional 150 screeners to Houston to assist in moving people through the airports to evacuate them from the city.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has provided approximately 650 buses to the state of Texas to support preparations for Hurricane Rita.

The Evironmental Protection Agency issued a reformulated gasoline waiver for the Houston/Galveston, Texas area. Conventional gasoline will be available for distribution and sale in this area from September 21 through September 26, 2005

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Terrorism: Saudi Arabia and Islamic Extremism

by Jim Kouri, CPP

(The following article is based on reports obtained by the National Association of Chiefs of Police.)

US government and other experts have reported that Islamic extremism is on the rise and that the spread of Islamic extremism is the preeminent threat facing the United States. In addition, various sources alleged that Saudi Arabia is one source that has supported and funded the spread of Islamic extremism globally.

The intelligence agencies, the Department of Defense, the State Department, and the US Agency for International Development are implementing various efforts to identify, monitor, and counter the support and funding of the global propagation of Islamic extremism. The intelligence agencies and DOD are carrying out identification and monitoring efforts, primarily in counterintelligence and force protection.

According to reports, the State Department and USAID are carrying out efforts to counter the global propagation of Islamic extremism, with State's efforts focused primarily on traditional diplomacy, counterterrorism, and public diplomacy and USAID's efforts focused on development programs to diminish underlying conditions of extremism.

According to the General Accounting Office they are preparing a classified report to be subsequently released with a more complete description of US efforts to address the global spread of Islamic extremism. A number of sources have reported that Saudi private entities and individuals, as well as sources from other countries, are allegedly financing or supporting Islamic extremism.

For example, in July 2005, a Treasury official testified before Congress that Saudi Arabia-based and -funded organizations remain a key source for the promotion of ideologies used by terrorists and violent extremists around the world to justify their agenda. However, according to the 9/11 Commission Report, the Commission found no persuasive evidence that the Saudi government knowingly supported al Qaeda.

The government agencies also told GAO staff that Islamic extremism is being propagated by sources in countries other than Saudi Arabia, such as Iran, Kuwait, and Syria. The agencies are still examining Saudi Arabia's relationship, and that of other sources in other countries, to Islamic extremism.

The Saudi government has announced and, in some cases, undertaken some reform efforts to address Islamic extremism. For example, the government is undertaking educational and religious reforms, including revising textbooks and conducting a 3-year enlightenment program, to purge extremism and intolerance from religious education. However, US agencies do not know the extent of the Saudi government's efforts to limit the activities of Saudi sources that have allegedly propagated Islamic extremism outside of Saudi Arabia.

Sources: General Accounting Office, US Department of State, US Department of Defense, National Security Institute, National Association of Chiefs of Police Terrorism Committee

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Conservative Cops Turn Against Governor Schwarzenegger

by Jim Kouri, CPP

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger -- already facing a tough reelection in California -- may find it even tougher thanks to several police organizations who represent thousands of California officers. The latest problem police associations and unions have with the Governator is his support for a ballot initiative, Proposition 75.

Prop 75, a November ballot measure, would require public employee unions to get members' written permission to spend their dues on political campaigns. Although sources within the ranks of police agencies throughout claim most cops are Republicans and conservatives, the union leadership tends to support Democrat and liberal candidates and liberal issues which means most of their contributions of cash and assistance go to the Democrats.

One source told this writer that he's a Schwarzenegger supporter, but his union leaders support Democrat opponents and detractors because they are concerned with issues related to pay and benefits for their membership. They're also aware that Proposition 75 will hurt public employee unions since it is sure to decrease their political clout and denigrate their endorsements.

"The union leaders are worried. What good are their endorsements if the rank-and-file members support the otherside?" says one police organization executive.

Besides endorsements, there are millions of dollars in campaign contributions for the Democrat Party -- viewed as labor-friendly -- and for individual candidates at stake should Californians vote for Prop 75.

Organizations such as the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the Association of Orange County Sheriff's Deputies, and the local chapter of largest police union in the US, the Fraternal Order of Police are mobilizing their resources to battle passage of the proposition. In fact the FOP's president sent out a letter to the organization's membership urging them to vote NO on Prop 75.

Roger Mayberry, president of the California Lodge of the FOP, said, "The proponents of Proposition 75 are antigovernment crusaders and big business special interests who want to silence [police officers'] voices! In states where similar measures to Prop 75 have passed, union PAC's (Political Action Committees) are 1/20th of their former levels."

Mayberry claims, "Every major law enforcement union, teachers, nurses, firefighters, as well as every major public employee and trade union are against Proposition 75" The national FOP endorsed President Bush for reelection in 2004 based on his tough stance against terrorism.

Among the initiative's proponents are a business coalition aligned with Schwarzenegger, tax-cut crusaders and the state Republican Party, which complains unions contribute disproportionately to Democrats in spite of the overwhelming majority of law enforcement identifying themselves as either Republican or conservative.

The GOP's stance enrages badge-wearing Republicans like one police sergeant, who wished to maintain anonymity. The decorated sergeant believes that Republicans should support police officers and compensate them for the good of the public.

"How can you attract the best cops to join or stay on the force if they cannot use their political clout to offer attractive wage and benefits programs."

One police officer sees Proposition 75 as an attack on cops and a Republican consultant sees that as a danger. "Cops view an attack on their union as an attack on the law enforcement community. How do Republicans separate the two?"

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Ted Kennedy: The Lion of the Democrat Party?

by Jim Kouri, CPP

[Parts of the following article originally appeared in Police Times Magazine. The original title was, "The President's Private Eye: The story of NYPD Detective Tony Ulasewicz."]

How many times have you heard Senator Ted Kennedy referred to as the Lion of the Democrat Party by members of the elite media? How many times have you heard Senator Kennedy pontificate on the veracity of others such as when he repeatedly called President George W. Bush a liar? How many times have you heard this so-called Lion of the Democrat Party mention his unceasing concerns over women's rights? Even recently, Senator Kennedy droned on and on without much regard for the truth, as he mugged for the TV cameras covering the Judge John Roberts Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

Since Senator Kennedy believes he's entitled to the moral high-ground, I thought this would be a proper time to resurrect an article I wrote for Police Times magazine a few years back that addressed the issue of Kennedy's cover-up in what's become known simply as Chappaquiddick. If anyone is unfamiliar with that incident, they've probably been spending too much time on another planet. It was the incident that put the kibosh on Teddy Kennedy's hopes of ever sitting in the Oval Office. Chappaquiddick saw a young woman -- Mary Jo Kopechne -- die as a result of being too close to a man who was, and continues to be, too absorbed with his own existence, aspirations and self-importance.

The article I wrote addressed the Kennedy cover-up as investigated by friend and colleague NYPD Detective Tony Ulasewicz. Tony investigated Chappaquiddick at the behest of the President of the United State, Richard M. Nixon.

After working as a detective in the elite Bureau of Special Security & Investigation, a precursor of the NYPD's Intelligence Division, Tony was approached by the Nixon White House to work for the President as his personal private eye. BOSSI was known in Washington, DC as "the little FBI and the little CIA" and Tony Ulasewicz gained a reputation as one of BOSSI's best detectives. Who better to serve the president as his top investigator.

Ulasewicz began his police career swinging a nightstick on the tough streets of Harlem in 1945 and ended his career as the first man to ever serve as a sitting president's private eye.

Here is a brief portion of my Police Times magazine conversation with Tony:

PoliceTimes: One important assignment you received was to investigate the death of Mary Jo Kopechne that resulted from her being in a car with Senator Ted Kennedy in Chappaquiddick. You've gone on the record saying the subsequent investigation into the incident -- whereby Kennedy's automobile ended up submerged in a pond, killing Mary Jo -- was a cover-up from the very beginning. What leads you to believe that?

Tony: Well, the evidence is extensive. For instance, the medical examiner, Dr. Donald Mills, never performed an autopsy. In fact, he pronounced Mary Jo's death as being "death by drowning" with merely a simple visual exam. My experience as a homicide detective told me that Kopechne didn't drown. I saw white foam around her mouth which indicates she died due to a lack of oxygen. In other words, there must have been an air pocket in the submerged vehicle and she was able to live perhaps two or three hours after the car hit the water. She suffocated due to a lack of oxygen. She didn't drown. Another theory -- far more shocking if true -- is that Mary Jo was suffocated prior to the car plunging into the pond.

PT: You also say many of Kennedy's staff where all over the island. What were they doing?

Tony: They were covering up. When Kennedy escaped from the submerged vehicle, the first thing he did was telephone staff members rather than call the cops or an ambulance. I was able to get the phone records. His claims of being disoriented as a result of an auto accident seem disingenuous when you consider he had the orientation to remember and dial many phone numbers to get the cover-up mobilized. For instance, some man showed up at the Edgartown police station, where the investigation was being conducted, and asked for a pocketbook that was discovered inside Kennedy's car. The police desk officer turned it over to the man without making a blotter (logbook) entry or even IDing the guy. The officer admitted he just turned it over, no questions asked.

Also, a Kennedy staffer took custody of Mary Jo's remains saying he was responsible for shipping the body back to her hometown in Pennsylvania. No autopsy. Just a preliminary exam and out the door goes Mary Jo.

PT: How did Kennedy avoid news media scrutiny?

Tony: Well, I decided that the news media were being fed misinformation by the Kennedy spin doctors. Whoever they were, they had a casual attitude toward the truth. For instance, the news media told the public that Kennedy made a wrong turn because he was unfamiliar with Chappaquiddick. Well, first, I examined the crime or accident scene myself and if Kennedy turned the way he said he did, he would have ended up either in the bushes or slamming into a telephone pole. Kennedy also said in his statement that he'd never been in that particular area before, which was why he was unfamiliar with the landscape.

I interviewed a number of residents on the island who said they routinely saw all the Kennedy brother and relatives on the island including Ted.

The cover-up included people being rushed off the island -- people who partied with Kennedy. They were never questioned by the small town police officers who were in over their heads. These partygoers, instead, were "debriefed" by Kennedy staffers or security people hired by Kennedy or his staff.

PT: Were the cops bought off?

Tony: I don't think so. These small town cops had no experience investigating homicides or big cases. They were also dealing with some very powerful people. The Edgartown cops just didn't have any reason to stick their necks out.

PT: You must have been frustrated.

Tony: Not only frustrated, but angry. Later, my boss, President Nixon, would be dragged through the mud by the news media; and here was a senator who committed negligent homicide if not out and out murder, and nothing happens to him. He keeps getting reelected. They keep electing Ted Kennedy when they know that at worst he's a murderer, at best he's a sniveling coward.

PT: Thanks, Tony.

And 35 years later, the elite media continue to ignore Chappaquiddick while they hail Kennedy as the Lion of the Democrat Party.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us
   

Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Aliens and Tropical Fish

by Jim Kouri, CPP

This story must be read to be believed. In one of the biggest maritime human smuggling cases in Port of Los Angeles, CA in years, a San Pedro man pleaded guilty this week to federal charges related to his smuggling of both tropical fish and illegal aliens into the United States.

Craig Lightner, 42, pleaded guilty to smuggling protected tropical fish and approximately 70 illegal aliens into the United States. Appearing before United States District Judge Gary A. Feess, Lightner specifically pleaded guilty to encouraging or inducing aliens to enter the United States for financial gain, a charge that carries a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison.

In plea agreements filed in United States District Court in Los Angeles, Lightner admitted that he smuggled illegal aliens into the United States on two occasions in August 2004. Using two rented boats -- the 47-foot yacht Soul Mates and the 44-foot yacht C'est La Vie - Lightner was involved in the smuggling of 20 and then 50 illegal immigrants who were transported from Tijuana to Ensenada and then to the Port of Los Angeles.

The alien smuggling scheme was discovered on August 30, 2004, when the C'est La Vie was stopped and boarded by the United States Coast Guard before approximately 50 aliens were off-loaded in the Port of Los Angeles. The interdiction of the rented French-built yacht by the US Coast Guard represented the largest incident of maritime human smuggling in the Los Angeles area in recent years. The aliens, including a three-year-old boy and a woman in her final month of pregnancy, were crowded into the vessel's small cabin, which was designed to sleep eight people. Two men who manned the C'est La Vie previously pleaded guilty to federal charges and will be sentenced later this year.

In the second case in which he pleaded guilty today, Lightner admitted that he smuggled very rare and expensive tropical fish into the United States. The fish - Clarion Angelfish, which are indigenous to Mexico and can cost up to $2,000 each -- were smuggled into the country in May 2004 through Los Angeles International Airport. In this case, Lightner pleaded guilty to one count of smuggling the tropical fish into the US without declaring them to federal authorities, a crime that carries a maximum possible penalty of five years in prison. The angelfish smuggled into the US are being detained at Aquarium of the Pacific, while the illegal aliens are being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Sources: US Department of Justice, US Coast Guard, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, National Association of Chiefs of Police

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us
   

Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Aliens and Tropical Fish(?)

by Jim Kouri, CPP

This story must be read to be believed. In one of the biggest maritime human smuggling cases in Port of Los Angeles, CA in years, a San Pedro man pleaded guilty this week to federal charges related to his smuggling of both tropical fish and illegal aliens into the United States.

Craig Lightner, 42, pleaded guilty to smuggling protected tropical fish and approximately 70 illegal aliens into the United States. Appearing before United States District Judge Gary A. Feess, Lightner specifically pleaded guilty to encouraging or inducing aliens to enter the United States for financial gain, a charge that carries a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison.

In plea agreements filed in United States District Court in Los Angeles, Lightner admitted that he smuggled illegal aliens into the United States on two occasions in August 2004. Using two rented boats -- the 47-foot yacht Soul Mates and the 44-foot yacht C'est La Vie - Lightner was involved in the smuggling of 20 and then 50 illegal immigrants who were transported from Tijuana to Ensenada and then to the Port of Los Angeles.

The alien smuggling scheme was discovered on August 30, 2004, when the C'est La Vie was stopped and boarded by the United States Coast Guard before approximately 50 aliens were off-loaded in the Port of Los Angeles. The interdiction of the rented French-built yacht by the US Coast Guard represented the largest incident of maritime human smuggling in the Los Angeles area in recent years. The aliens, including a three-year-old boy and a woman in her final month of pregnancy, were crowded into the vessel's small cabin, which was designed to sleep eight people. Two men who manned the C'est La Vie previously pleaded guilty to federal charges and will be sentenced later this year.

In the second case in which he pleaded guilty today, Lightner admitted that he smuggled very rare and expensive tropical fish into the United States. The fish - Clarion Angelfish, which are indigenous to Mexico and can cost up to $2,000 each -- were smuggled into the country in May 2004 through Los Angeles International Airport. In this case, Lightner pleaded guilty to one count of smuggling the tropical fish into the US without declaring them to federal authorities, a crime that carries a maximum possible penalty of five years in prison. The angelfish smuggled into the US are being detained at Aquarium of the Pacific, while the illegal aliens are being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Sources: US Department of Justice, US Coast Guard, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, National Association of Chiefs of Police

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Thousands of Criminals Nabbed by Border Patrol

by Jim Kouri, CPP

Since October 1, 2004, Border Patrol agents in the Tucson, AZ Sector have apprehended 27,834 illegal aliens with criminal records, 74 of which were for homicide. Last fiscal year, the Tucson Sector apprehended 14,506 illegal aliens with criminal records. These figures do not include the thousands of criminal aliens apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents or those in other Border Patrol sectors.

For example, Border Patrol agents of the Tucson Sector apprehended an illegal alien with an outstanding murder warrant for his arrest in New York City. The suspect killed his victim, escaped back into Mexico and then re-entered the US at a later date.

Last month, Border Patrol agents from the Casa Grande station apprehended a group of 13 illegal aliens west of Sells, Arizona. All 13 subjects were transported to the Nogales Processing Center where their fingerprints were entered into the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), for comparison with the FBI fingerprint database.

One of the individuals, Jose Luis Castaneda-Cardenas, a 23-year-old Mexican National, was identified as having an outstanding felony warrant for “Felony Murder” and “Misdemeanor Criminal Possession of a Weapon,” in New York City. The New York City Police Department verified the warrant, and confirmed extradition of Castaneda. Castaneda remains in federal custody while he's awaiting extradition to New York.

The technology, the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System or IAFIS, enables Border Patrol agents to search fingerprint databases simultaneously using the Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) and the FBI fingerprint database. It provides rapid identification of individuals with outstanding criminal warrants by electronically comparing a live-scanned fingerprint with a nationwide database of biometrically indexed fingerprints.

In other incidents, Border Patrol agents of the Tucson Sector arrested two sexual predators. One of which was a United States Citizen, wanted for violent sex crimes. Border agents from the Douglas Station arrested Jose Rodriguez, a 29-year-old illegal alien from Mexico.

At the station, agents identified Rodriguez as having a criminal record in Denver, CO. He was arrested on November 30, 1998 for “Felony Sexual Assault on a Child.” Rodriguez plead guilty and was sentenced to three years incarceration. As a result of his conviction, he was subsequently Ordered Removed from the United States on February 18, 1999.

Rodriguez is currently in federal custody pending removal proceedings and prosecution. Also, agents from the Ajo Station encountered Jorge M. Sam, a 20-year-old United States citizen from Prescott, AZ, on the Tohono O’odham Nation during a vehicle stop. Records checks through the Tucson Sector Communications Center, revealed that Sam had an outstanding warrant for his arrest issued by the US Marshals Service, as a sexually violent predator. The charges on the warrant were “Sexual Assault against a Child” and “Carnal Abuse of a Juvenile under the Age of 14 at Time of Assault.” Sam was arrested and turned over to the Pima County Sheriffs Office to await extradition.

Sources: US Border Patrol, Department of Homeland Security, US Marshals Service, American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us   

Dutch Man Indicted for Terrorism Conspiracy in Iraq

by Jim Kouri, CPP

An Iraqi-born Dutch citizen has been indicted by a grand jury in Washington, DC for allegedly participating in a conspiracy to attack Americans based in Iraq. These are the first US criminal charges connected to terrorist activities in Iraq.

The indictment charges Wesam Al Delaema, a/k/a Wesam Khalaf Chayed Delaeme, with six counts: conspiracy to kill US citizens abroad; conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction (explosives); conspiracy to maliciously damage or destroy US government property by means of an explosive; possession of a destructive device (explosives) during a crime of violence; conspiracy to possess a destructive device (explosives) during a crime of violence; and teaching or demonstrating the making or use of an explosive with the intent to further a crime of violence. A criminal complaint had previously been filed against Delaema on July 27, 2005, charging four of these offenses.

Delaema, 32, was born in Fallujah, Iraq. He was arrested by Dutch law enforcement authorities on May 2, 2005, and was facing similar charges in that country. Since his arrest, Dutch law enforcement and prosecution authorities have worked cooperatively with the FBI in its investigation of Delaema's alleged terrorist activities. Following the filing of the US criminal complaint against Delaema in July, the United States informed the Dutch authorities of its intention to request Delaema's extradition to face the charges filed here. Shortly thereafter, Dutch authorities announced that Delaema had been transferred into extradition custody in response to the request from the United States. The indictment returned recently will now serve as the charges for which the United States will seek Delaema's extradition from the Netherlands.

The indictment alleges that Delaema traveled from the Netherlands to Iraq in October 2003, with a group of co-conspirators calling themselves the "Mujahideen from Fallujah," who declared their intentions to kill Americans in Iraq using explosives. The indictment further alleges that Delaema and his co-conspirators hid explosives in a road in the area of Fallujah, Iraq.

The investigation into this matter was conducted by the FBI's Washington Field Office, with assistance from the Dutch National Police Agency, the National Office of the Public Prosecutor in the Netherlands and the Office of International Affairs in the Criminal Division at the US Department of Justice. The prosecutors handling the case are Justice Department Trial Attorney Gregg N. Sofer of the Counterterrorism Section and Assistant US Attorney Gregg A. Maisel of the US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. If convicted on the charges in the criminal indictment filed, Delaema faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Sources: US Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Bill Clinton to Matt Lauer: I Thwarted Terrorist Attacks

Clinton's Anti-Terrorism Warrior Legacy
by Jim Kouri, CPP

Former President William Jefferson Clinton appearing on NBC's The Today Show bragged about how his administration thwarted terrorist attacks. During his interview with Matt Lauer -- without the least bit of shame for his obvious lie -- Clinton continued to revise history without any questioning of his comments by the mainstream news media (MSM).

But let's give credit where credit is due: Clinton and his people do TALK a great war on terrorism. Let's examine Clinton's record of combating terrorists:

In 1993, President Clinton prevented a bombing at New York City's World Trade Center. Oh. Wait. The terrorists did succeed in bombing the WTC, killing six and wounding over 100 New Yorkers. So that attack wasn't thwarted. But at least he visited the site of that horrible terrorist attack. No? You say he never went there?

Okay, Clinton was new in the job. He later distinguished himself as a stong commander-in-chief. Afterall, he did fiercely battle a faction of Al-Qaeda in Somalia right after the so-called Black Hawk Down incident. Oh. Sorry. Actually Clinton pulled out our troops. Well, we didn't want to lose more soldiers and high-tech weaponry so Clinton did the right thing. What? What's that you say? Oh, so Clinton didn't send troops in with tanks, Bradley armored vehicles and high-tech weapons? He sent them in with Hummers, rifles, grenades and launchers, and other conventional weapons? Well, at least he sent them in armed so they could defend themselves.

Bill Clinton then thwarted an attack on Kobalt Towers in Saudi Arabia in 1997, when terrorists attempted ... What? No! Really? The terrorists succeeded and killed scores of American military troops and civilians? My mistake.

But he did thwart the simultaneous attacks on our embassies in 1998.... Ooops, my mistake. The terrorists succeeded in that attack. But he did succeed against the terrorists plotting their attack on the US Navy's USS Cole in 1999. I'm wrong? Really? The terrorists killed how many sailors? Seventeen?

Well, you can't argue with the fact that Clinton mobilized law enforcement and the intelligence community to work together to identify and takeout terrorists before they struck. What? No way! His Administration prohibited intelligence agents from providing information to law enforcement agencies? What??? Get outa town! His Justice Department increased the height of the "wall" prohibiting the FBI and the CIA from sharing information?

So when did Clinton succeed in thwarting a terrorist attack? The Millennium attack? No way. That one I know isn't true. Clinton didn't apprehend a Islamofascist on his way to bomb Los Angeles International Airport. It was achieved by an alert female US Customs agent. Clinton did take credit for it, but the MSM knew that the hardworking Customs agent never received any terrorism alert and took it upon herself to investigate a suspicious looking character coming across the US-Canadian border. Yet, our unbiased MSM decided to allow Clinton and his flunkies to take credit and the Customs agent has been delegated to anonymity. The Customs agent who saved countless lives and property remains unknown in history, but William Jefferson Clinton is being allowed to rewrite history. Terrorism warrior, my foot. The only positive thing is that the brave Customs agent wasn't disciplined for her use of racial profiling.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Modus Operandi of a Child Predator

by Jim Kouri, CPP

A 55-year old man, who sent sexually explicit images via the Internet to a person he thought was a 12-year-old girl with the intent of having sex with her, was sentenced to over 21 years in federal prison, the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents. The 12-year-old girl was actually an undercover ICE agent. Dennis Ray Barnes of Louisville, Ky. was sentenced Sept. 13 following his guilty plea on four counts of violating federal child pornography laws. This is considered a typical child exploitation case and reveals the modus operandi or operation mode of numerous child pornographers and predators.

Barnes pleaded guilty previously to several violations of federal child pornography laws. According to a written plea agreement filed in open court on April 15, Barnes admitted that he used his home computer connected to the Internet to obtain, possess, and distribute images of children engaged in child pornography. On Dec. 6, 2004, Barnes possessed numerous images of child pornography, and on that same date, he engaged in an on-line chat with a person identified as a 12-year-old girl.

Prior to Dec. 6, 2004, and continuing until about Jan. 3, 2005, Barnes engaged in numerous on-line chats with the 12-year-old.On more than one occasion during the on-line chats, Barnes used a web camera to display images of himself to the person he believed to be a 12-year-old girl. Specifically, Barnes used the web camera to transmit images of his genitalia and his face.

Barnes also sent similar images of himself to the 12-year-old using movie and photographic files attached to e-mail messages. During the course of the on-line chats and during a monitored telephone call, Barnes discussed matters such as traveling to visit the girl in Illinois to engage in sexually explicit conduct with her. He also discussed plans for the girl to travel to Louisville and stay in his home to engage in sexually explicit conduct with him.

In early January 2005, Barnes mailed money to a person he believed to be a 12-year-old girl so that she could purchase a phone card to continue their telephone conversations.During those computer and telephone communications, Barnes provided to a person he believed to be a 12-year-old girl directions regarding how to connect to his personal computer, and he let her access his computer to share files showing images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Barnes shared the files with the person he believed to be a 12-year-old girl while discussing the sexual activity in which he and the 12-year-old would engage if he traveled to see her or she traveled to see him.

An ICE special agent, acting in an undercover capacity as the 12-year-old girl, connected to Barnes' computer and was able to see 178 files available to be downloaded. On Dec. 6, 2004, the ICE agent downloaded four movie files, and Barnes transmitted one movie file during the chat session. The files contained images of children engaged in child pornography, which had been sent across state lines by computer. Barnes again allowed the ICE special agent (acting in an undercover capacity) to access Barnes' computer to download certain files, and the agent downloaded numerous movie and photographic files from Barnes' computer on. The files contained images of children engaged in child pornography. The porno included images of prepubescent children or minors under the age of 12. The pictures also involved material that portrayed violent conduct including the sexual penetration of young children by adult males.

In Janurary 2005, ICE agents executed a federal search warrant on Barnes' home and seized numerous computer and computer-related items, in which examination by forensic specialists revealed the presence of more than 600 images of child pornography.

Barnes' arrest and prosecution is part of Operation Predator, an ongoing ICE national enforcement initiative to protect children from pornographers, child prostitution rings, Internet predators, alien smugglers, human traffickers, and other predatory criminals. Since the initiative began in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested more than 6,300 individuals nationwide, many of whom are illegal immigrants.

Sources: US Department of Justice, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, US Postal Service, National Association of Chiefs of Police

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Feds Charge American Airlines with Serious Safety Violations

by Jim Kouri, CPP

The US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Federal Aviation Administration, Eastern Region, filed a federal civil action against American Airlines for multiple violations of federal regulations regarding aircraft safety. American Airlines, a major commercial air carrier headquartered in Texas, operates commercial passenger airline services throughout the United States, as well as abroad.

According to a complaint filed in US District Court in Brooklyn, NY, an FAA inspector who was traveling as a passenger on an American Airlines flight between Orlando International Airport in Florida, and LaGuardia Airport in New York, observed fuel leaking from the wing of the aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 passenger jet, during the flight. The inspector reported his observation to the flight crew, and pointed out the location of the leak to the pilot of the aircraft following its arrival in New York. Despite the inspector's warning, American Airlines allegedly took no action to adequately inspect, repair, or maintain the aircraft and correct the leak -- rendering the aircraft un-airworthy -- and failed even to note the Inspector's report of a leak in the maintenance logs as required by FAA regulations.

Instead, American Airlines chose to fly the plane on an additional 53 commercial flights, deferring appropriate action until the plane underwent a regularly scheduled intensive maintenance check. In the course of that maintenance check, the complaint alleges that a fuel leak was discovered in the same area that had been reported by the FAA Inspector weeks earlier.

The government alleges that on 53 commercial flights American Airlines failed to comply with FAA regulations which prohibit the operation of an aircraft in an un-airworthy condition, that its operation of those flights was in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the lives and property of others, and that American Airlines violated multiple FAA regulations governing maintenance and record-keeping with respect to the leak.

Accordingly, the US government seeks more than $1 million in civil penalties and sufficient oversight to assure that American Airlines complies with the applicable standards of safety, maintenance, and record keeping.

"These violations reflect a disregard for the safety of passengers and the regulations that exist to safeguard our skies," stated United States Attorney Roselyn Mauskopf. "Betrayal of the public trust vested in air carriers licensed by the FAA will be answered by vigorous enforcement of our laws."

Sources: US Department of Justice, Federal Aviation Administration, American Society for Industrial Security

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Specter and the Magic Bullet

by Jim Kouri, CPP

Let me state from the beginning that I'm not a big fan of Senator Arlen Specter. Except for his prosecutorial prowess displayed during the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill hearings, I've never had much use for him. However, as the Supreme Court-Judge Roberts confirmation hearings progress with Senator Joe Biden asking eight-minute, grandstanding questions and then accusing Roberts of filibustering, I'm enjoying Senator Specter's attempts at controlling the deranged Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

News coverage of the hearings is as expected: biased, shrill and disingenuous. One thing that sticks in my mind is the continued references to Senator Specter and "the magic bullet." I had absolutely no idea what the term meant or it's significance, but I noticed it makes the intellectual giants of the mainstream news media giggle like little girlie-men.

Finally, I actually took the time from my busy schedule to conduct a google search of "Senator Arlen Specter, Magic Bullet," and discovered it's merely a theory Specter toted that a "magic bullet" is responsible for President John F. Kennedy's death. He claimed he believed that there was one shooter and one bullet that magically broke every rule of ballistic analysis in direct contradiction of more feasible theories of the Kennedy Assassination.

That's when I got it: The news media are attempting to marginalize Senator Specter as a kook in retaliation for his attempts at putting a leash on Democrat attack-dogs such as Kennedy, Biden, Schumer, Feinstein, Durbin and Leahy. But why are the media only bringing up Senator Spector's peculiarity? And why when describing Republicans -- even Liberal and Moderate ones -- do the news media feel compelled to mention a GOP politician's past indiscretions or lapses in common sense? Why not be fair and balanced?

When Senator Robert Byrd pontificates endlessly on the floor of the US Senate, why don't the mainstream media remind Americans that Senator Byrd was not only a member of the Ku Klux Klan, but served as a successful recruiter for the racist, murderous KKK? When discussing filibusters, why not mention that Senator Byrd filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1964? He also opposed the nominations of the Supreme Court's two black justices, liberal Thurgood Marshall and conservative Clarence Thomas. In fact, the ex-Klansman had the gall to accuse Justice Thomas of "injecting racism" into the Senate hearings.

And how about Senator Teddy Kennedy? Now there's a living monument to virtue. While a woman lay dying underwater, Kennedy was busy calling his "people" to help him get out of a jam. I'll leave it at that since it is too easy to become enraged thinking about his holier-than-thou pronouncements as "the Lion of the Democrat Party." The Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz has more integrity than Kennedy. When the 35th Anniversary of Chappaquiddick rolled around this year, the deafening silence of the mainstream media bordered on the absurd.

Does anyone hear or read Senator Patrick "Leaky" Leahy when watching or reading a news report dealing with one of his frequent tirades? It's no secret within the beltway that if you give Leahy classified material expect to read all or parts of secret documents in the Washington Post or New York Times. And reporters don't blow the whistle on Leaky Leahy because they want continued access to secret government files, especially if it hurts the common enemy of the Democrat Party and the mainstream news media: George W. Bush in particular, and the GOP in general.

Do members of the news media remind Americans that Senator Joe Biden is a plagiarist?
Say what you will about Judge John Roberts, but I'll bet the farm he writes his own briefs and opinions. Although Biden touts himself as someone who has earned national and international recognition as a policy innovator, effective legislator and party spokesman on international relations and arms control, he is best known as a politician who was drummed out of the 1988 presidential race when he was caught plagiarizing speeches from other politicians. It was then disclosed that Biden was involved in a plagiarism incident in law school and exaggerated his academic record.

Another bulwark of the Democrat Party is Senator Tom Harkin. During the 2004 presidential election cycle, Harkin garnered more media attention than usual because of his attacks on President Bush regarding his Air National Guard Record. While covering that blowhard's many shrill comments not one reporter mentioned Senator Harkin "mischaracterized" his own war record. He claimed to have flown combat missions in Vietnam, but some smart conservative checked Harkin's military records before they could be sealed and made off-limits and discovered an interesting fact: Senator Tom Harkin was in Vietnam once when he was delivering mail from Tokyo. The only combat missions he flew were a couple over Cuba. Harkin quickly changed his claim to be a Vietnam veteran. He now says he was a Vietnam Era veteran.

As I sit and watch Senator Durbin grilling Judge Roberts, I'm reminded of his comments on the floor of the Senate. How can we forget Senator Durbin's comparison of US soldiers to Nazis? Followed by spinning his remarks and when that didn't work, he gave a lame apology without recanting his statements comparing our soldiers to Nazis, our detention facilities to Russian gulags, and US military actions to the killing fields of Pol Pot's Cambodia. Are the mainstream media reminding Americans of those hateful words by a hack politician? No.

When TV evangelist Pat Robertson made a statement that the United States should "take out" President Chavez of Venezuela, the mainstream media hyperventilated. How dare Robertson advocate the assassination or overthrow of a commie? A terrorist advocates the death of Americans and the media nonchalantly reports it. If a conservative advocates the end of a communist regime, the media becomes infuriated to the point that they believe anything Robertson does subsequently is highly tainted. For instance, when Operation Blessing became involved in helping victims of Hurricane Katrina, outraged reporters wanted to know why the US government was allowing an organization once headed by Robertson to participate in rescue operations. Nevermind that Operation Blessing fed more Africans, Asians and others than any Liberal organization ever did or ever will do.

When Senator Ted Kennedy says he's deeply concerned over the rights of women, do news reporters take his statement in the context of Chappaquiddick? Yeah, right.


Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Protecting US Strategic Technology

by Jim Kouri, CPP

For decades, foreign adversaries of the United States have sought to acquire US and Western arms and technology through both legal and illegal means. Illicit trade in these items has allowed our enemies to secure the fruits of Western research and strategic technology at a relatively low cost, while placing US citizens, troops and national interests, as well as global security, at risk. Strategic technologies and weapons are essential to the defense of the United States. In the wrong hands, however, these items could become instruments of terrorism or war that could be used against the United States.

As with any illicit trade, the precise volume of illegal exports is difficult to measure or even to estimate. federal investigations and seizures suggest that this global market amounts to tens of millions of dollars annually. However, the monetary value of these products pales in comparison to their strategic and military value.

Sensitive products include aircraft, missile and weapons technology; materials and equipment used in the construction of nuclear weapons; night vision technology; biological and chemical warfare agents and their precursors; systems for weapons detection, tracking and monitoring; and a wide range of manufacturing technologies for microelectronics, computers and other digital components.

Project Shield America seeks to prevent foreign adversaries, terrorists, and criminal networks from obtaining and trafficking in WMD and their components. The initiative also seeks to prevent these groups from obtaining sensitive US technologies, commodities, munitions and firearms. Furthermore, Project Shield America targets financial transactions that support these activities or violate US sanctions or embargoes.

Inspection and Interdiction – Specially trained US Customs and Border Protection Inspectors are stationed at high-threat US ports of entry to inspect outbound shipments for possible violations of US export laws. Any violations are reported to ICE agents for further investigation.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents conduct investigations of export violations, seize illegal shipments of controlled technology and munitions, and pursue the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of violators. In a one year period, ICE agents opened approximately 3,000 new criminal investigations into the illegal export of US munitions and strategic technology. ICE agents also conduct outreach visits with industry officials to educate them about US export laws and to solicit their assistance in preventing illegal foreign acquisition of their products.

This partnership is crucial, allowing ICE agents to concentrate on proactive investigations and to identify vulnerabilities in the export system before they can damage vital US interests. Furthermore, these industry outreach visits often result in tips from industry sources that lead to criminal investigations. In the 2003 and 2004 fiscal years, ICE agents have conducted more than 5,500 industry outreach visits around the country, resulting in tips that have prompted dozens of ICE criminal investigations nationwide and worldwide.

ICE Attaches stationed in nations around the world enlist the support of host governments to develop leads and investigative information in support of ongoing domestic arms and strategic technology investigations. At the same time, these ICE Attaches help support investigations by foreign law enforcement into illegal weapons and technology trafficking.

These efforts are all supported by the ICE Arms and Strategic Technology Investigations Unit’s Exodus Command Center located in Washington, DC The command center serves as an information-sharing hub for DHS as well as for the US Departments of Commerce, Defense and State and other agencies concerned with the export of US strategic technology and products.

Sources: Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, National Security Institute, American Society for Industrial Security

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and crime magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer, Campus Law Enforcement Journal, and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional.

Security Training for Airline Crews Continues, But Is It Enough?

by Jim Kouri, CPP

Training flight and cabin crew members to handle potential threats against domestic aircraft is an important element in securing our nation's aviation system. The responsibility for ensuring that crew members are prepared to handle these threats is a shared responsibility between the private sector -- air carriers -- and the federal government, primarily the Transportation Security Administration.

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the TSA enhanced guidance and standards for flight and cabin crew member security training with input from aviation experts and airline executives. Specifically, the TSA revised the guidance and standards to include additional training required by law and to improve the organization and clarity of the guidance and standards.

Some stakeholders interviewed by analysts with the General Accounting Office and the GOA's own review generally found that the revised guidance and standards improved upon previous versions in terms of organization and clarity of the information provided. However, some stakeholders identified concerns about, for example, the reasonableness of applying parts of the guidance and standards to both flight and cabin crew members and the difficulty in implementing some of the standards without additional information or training tools from the TSA.

Additionally, the TSA has not established strategic goals and performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of the training because it considers its role in the training program as regulatory. In this regard, the TSA views the individual air carriers as responsible for establishing performance goals and measures for their training programs, but has not required them to do so. Without goals and measures, the TSA and air carriers will be limited in their ability to fully assess accomplishments and target associated improvements.

The TSA recently took steps to strengthen its efforts to oversee air carriers' flight and cabin crew security training to ensure they are complying with the required guidance and standards. For example, in January 2005, the TSA added staff with expertise in designing training programs to review air carriers' crew member security training curriculums and developed a standard form for staff to use to conduct their reviews. However, TSA lacks adequate controls for monitoring and reviewing air carriers' crew member security training, including written procedures for conducting and documenting these reviews.

The TSA plans to develop written procedures, but has not established a timeframe for completing this effort. The TSA has developed an advanced voluntary self-defense training program with input from stakeholders and implemented the program in December 2004, as required by law. However, stakeholders and GOA analysis identified concerns about the training design and delivery, such as the lack of recurrent training and the lack of a realistic training environment. Also, the TSA has not yet established performance measures for the program or established a time frame for evaluating the program's effectiveness.

Sources: Transportation Security Agency, General Accounting Office, National Security Institute, American Society for Industrial Security, National Association of Chiefs of Police

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Major Chinese Crime Gang Dismantled in New York

by Jim Kouri, CPP

A 22-count Indictment in Manhattan federal court appears to have dismantled a major, violent criminal organization-- the Yi Ging Organization-- operating throughout New York City.

As alleged in the indictment, the Yi Ging Organization regularly resorted to violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect, and augment its power and illegal money-making activities, which included extortion, the operation of several lucrative gambling parlors in the Chinatown section of Manhattan, and the large-scale importation and distribution of pirated DVDs and CDs.

The federal indictment charges 39 defendants with wide-ranging criminal activity, including racketeering offenses (“RICO”), assaults in aid of racketeering, extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion, extortionate debt collection, conspiracy to use extortionate means to collect extensions of credit, witness tampering, money laundering, trafficking in counterfeit DVDs and CDs, the operation of large-scale illegal gambling businesses, and drug trafficking.

The indictment also seeks a total of $10 million in forfeiture from the 18 defendants charged with RICO offenses, reflecting the lucrative nature of the organization’s criminal businesses. In connection with the unsealing of the Indictment, the Government also executed five search warrants at various illegal gambling locations in Manhattan and Queens.

This unsealed indictment is the result of coordinated investigations over the past three years directed at criminal organizations based in the Chinatown section of Manhattan by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Postal Inspection Service and the New York City Police Department. In November 2004, related investigations resulted in the arrests of 51 members and associates of two other violent gangs that extorted numerous businesses and individuals, operated gambling parlors and trafficked in counterfeit goods in New York City.

The Yi Ging Organization allegedly reaped enormous profits from its criminal activities. It is alleged that its gambling parlors took in up to $50,000 a night and its pirated DVD and CD business generated millions of dollars in profits. Allegedly, members of the organization traveled regularly to China to obtain illegal copies of American and Chinese DVDs, which they then smuggled into the United States. The organization then copied the DVDs, as well as pirated CDs of popular music, which were sold at stores it controlled in Manhattan and elsewhere in New York City, it is alleged. The indictment also alleges that the organization sent much of its profits back to China, in part to purchase additional DVDs and CDs.

(Special thanks to members of the New York City Police Department for their assistance with this report.)

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Terrorism Case Against Arab Bank to Move Forward

by Jim Kouri, CPP

US District Judge Nina Gershon, in New York City, ruled in favor of a group of American victims of international terrorism who claim the Jordon-based Arab Bank has actively supported Palestinian terrorists in the Middle East.

In ruling on a motion by Arab Bank to dismiss the lawsuit or move the case to Amman, Jordan, Judge Gershon wrote: "The factual allegations of the complaints sufficiently support an inference that Arab Bank and the terrorist organizations were participants in a common plan under which Arab Bank would supply necessary financial services to the organizations which would themselves perform the violent acts. Administering the death and dismemberment benefit plan further supports not only the existence of an agreement but Arab Bank's knowing and intentional participation in the agreement's illegal goals. No more is required."

The ruling means that hundreds of victims of international terrorism will have their day in an American court Attorneys for the victims want the world to hear how Arab Bank, through its New York branch, served as a key catalyst for terrorism by providing extensive financial services to notorious Palestinian terror groups.

Victims claim that Arab Bank provided "systematic" financial support to the families of all Palestinian terrorists killed, injured or incarcerated since the start of the Al Aqsa Intifada in the fall of 2000. Next to Hamas the Al Aqsa Brigade is the most ruthless and brutal terrorist group operating in Israel.

Specifically, Arab Bank administered a terrorist death and dismemberment insurance scheme which allowed the families of so-called "martyrs" to collect financial payments, upon registering with the Bank. According to attorney Mark Werbner, by implementing and administering this 'universal insurance' scheme, the Arab Bank assisted in the ongoing recruitment of terrorists, including scores of suicide bombers who attacked civilians in Israel during the past four years.

Arab Bank has admitted in a sworn statement filed with the Court that it channeled payments totaling nearly $90 million from the Saudi Committee in Support of the Intifada Al Quds, established in Saudi Arabia in October 2000. Plaintiffs allege that the Saudi Committee "constitutes a professional fundraising apparatus intended to subsidize the Intifada."

The ruling by Judge Gershon, of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, significantly improves the likelihood that the Arab Bank will be forced to defend itself at trial against allegations that it has supported and encouraged terrorism. The trial could take place as early as next year. Depositions of key Arab Bank officials are being scheduled for this fall.

On August 17, the US Treasury Department fined the New York branch of Arab Bank $24 million for its failure to conform to the Bank Secrecy Act, a potent government law designed to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. The Treasury Department says that Arab Bank is guilty of "systemic" failures to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Clinton's Mythical FEMA

by Jim Kouri, CPP

Senator Hillary Clinton is continuing the noble endeavor of revising the record of her loving husband's eight years in the Oval Office, even if it means exploiting Hurricane Katrina's devastation to do it. Senator Clinton creates a mythical picture of FEMA under her husband's leadership and her comrades in the mainstream news media run with it.

While making the rounds of the network morning shows, she's been very hard on the Federal Emergency Management Administration and, of course, the Bush Administration. She went as far as complaining that Bush damaged "Bill's FEMA." Naturally, the mainstream media are too lazy to investigate her politically-charged exploitation of Katrina to not only revise her hubby's legacy, but also to score brownie points as she eyes a 2008 presidential run.

I'm giving the mainstream media the benefit of the doubt when I say they're too lazy to investigate Hillary's bogus claim that FEMA was heaven on earth when good old Bill was in-charge. One can make a case that the MSM want to assist Senator Clinton in revising the Clinton Legacy while helping Hillary with her upcoming presidential campaign. But, Madam Senator, what about FEMA's response to Hurricane Floyd? You remember Floyd, don't you?

On Sept. 15, 1999, Mother Nature poised herself to deliver the second in a one-two punch combination of hurricanes to hit North Carolina. Earlier, Hurricane Dennis jabbed once at the Carolina coast before doubling back and coming ashore as Tropical Storm Dennis on Sept. 5, packing torrential rains and 70 mile-per-hour winds. Then came the knockout punch—Hurricane Floyd—ten days later.

Floyd was a large and intense Cape Verde hurricane that pounded the central and northern Bahama islands, seriously threatened Florida, struck the coast of North Carolina and moved up the United States east coast into New England. It neared the threshold of category five intensity on the Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale as it approached the Bahamas, and produced a flood disaster of immense proportions in the eastern United States, particularly in North Carolina.

There were 56 deaths that were directly attributable to Floyd. The death toll by state is as follows: North Carolina 35, Pennsylvania 6, New Jersey 6, Virginia 3, Delaware 2, New York 2, Connecticut 1, and Vermont 1. Most of these deaths were due to drowning in freshwater flooding. Floyd was the deadliest hurricane in the United States since Agnes of 1972. According to information provided to the Federal Emergency Management Administration, over 2 million people were evacuated due to Floyd. This was probably the largest evacuation in US history. And it was achieved by state and local government officials. (Hear that, Governor Blanco?)

FEMA didn't do much better under much less taxing conditions during Floyd than it did during Hurricane Katrina, when the floods that followed Hurricane Floyd left tens of thousands stranded up and down the Eastern seaboard wondering what happened to federal rescuers. Where's Bill Clinton's FEMA?

According to Newsmax.Com, Clinton FEMA Director James Lee Witt won high marks for hurricane preparation, but the flood that followed swamped his agency. A full three weeks after the storm had passed, Rev. Jesse Jackson interviewed Witt on his CNN show "Both Sides Now" -- and complained that flood victims were still suffering from a "misery index."

"It seemed there was preparation for Hurricane Floyd, but then came Flood Floyd," Jackson began. "Bridges are overwhelmed, levees (my emphasis) are overwhelmed, whole town's under water (my emphasis). . . [it's] an awesome scene of tragedy. So there's a great misery index in North Carolina."

When Jackson asked what was being done for the thousands of families left homeless by Floyd after nearly a month had passed since the storm first hit, Witt said Bill's FEMA was "just beginning to address the problem."

While Witt's reputation remained largely intact after the Floyd fiasco, more than a few of the storm's thousands of flood victims complained that the agency had failed them, according to Carl Limbacher of Newmax. Witt and Clinton were so successful -- with the help of the MSM -- in escaping widespread criticism in the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd, that Louisiana's competency-deficient Governor Blanco appointed Witt to head her own emergency operations. The MSM breathlessly announced the appointment and that was the last time anyone's heard about Bill Clinton's FEMA boss.

Another criticism by Hillary's comrades in the Democrat Party and by her pals in the news media is that President Bush staffed FEMA with his cronies such as Mike Brown. But no one in the memory-impaired news media appears to remember Bill Clinton's cronies including Buddy Young.

Raymond Lloyd "Buddy" Young was appointed FEMA's Director of Region VI by President Clinton in 1993. As regional director, he coordinated FEMA mitigation, preparedness and disaster response and recovery activities in: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. In 1997, he served as Acting Deputy Director for the agency. Mr. Young is a veteran of 26 years of service for the Arkansas State Police. He joined FEMA after serving as director of security for then-Governor Bill Clinton, a post he had held since 1983. In other words, Young's experience entailed covering for Bill during his alleged trysts. His education consists of a certificate in public administration from the University of Arkansas. No college degrees and no emergency management experience (unless his yelling, "Bill, quick zip your fly. Hillary's coming!" constitutes managing an emergency).

Cronies? The Clintons were the king and queen of cronyism. Remember their Chief of White House Personnel Security Craig "where the hell did those FBI files come from" Livingstone? His security experience entailed work as a bouncer at strip clubs and discos. I can only surmise why Bill Clinton felt obligated to a man with those security credentials.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us   

Brutal Human Smugglers Nailed in Phoenix, Texas

by Jim Kouri, CPP

A 24-year-old Mexican national faces a possible sentence of life in prison after being found guilty for his role in a violent human smuggling scheme uncovered last year when agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement rescued three illegal immigrants who were being held hostage in a Phoenix area home.

Marcial Avila was convicted August 24 of hostage taking, carrying and brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence, and three counts of alien smuggling. The hostage taking and firearms charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Evidence introduced during Avila's trial showed that he and two other men received a group of three smuggled aliens at a “drop house” in west central Phoenix. When the aliens arrived, they were taken to a bedroom with plywood over the windows and ordered to remove their shoes. Witnesses testified that Avila and his accomplices threatened to kill the aliens and their relatives with an assault rifle if they did not pay their smuggling fees, which had been raised from the original $900 to $3,000 apiece.

ICE agents and officers from the Phoenix Police Department rescued the hostages May 9, 2004. When the agents searched the house, they found the loaded semiautomatic rifle, additional ammunition, and notebooks containing the names of the hostages and their relatives' contact information.

In Texas, three alien smugglers were sentenced to 14 years in prison in U.S. District Court for hostage taking, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

All of the suspects were arrested by the Houston Police Department (HPD) officers responding to a call alleging dozens of illegal aliens were being held at gunpoint at the car shop. ICE agents took custody from HPD of the defendants and the 36 smuggled aliens. Some of the smuggled aliens attempted to escape by crawling through the rafters inside the building, but ultimately fell through the ceiling into stores next door.

During a two-week court trial, evidence presented by the government identified Victor Victoria-Magdaleno as the person who walked the smuggled illegal aliens through the brush near Roma, Texas, and then arranged to drive them to Houston and drop them off at GNW Car Stereo shop. He acted as a “boss” and made sure the aliens didn’t leave the property.

Armando Gaona, 30, a Mexican national, also was described by many of the illegal aliens as the boss, and as the individual responsible for beating a smuggled alien unconscious for failing to pay an additional $2,000 smuggling fee. William Calderon-Lopez, the manager at GNW Stereo Car Shop housed the illegal aliens at the store until relatives paid their smuggling fees. He also acted as a guard. Zabdiel Hernandez-Bonilla, 19, a Mexican national, was sentenced to 108 months in prison June 2004. He was also responsible for guarding the aliens and for keeping ledger books and lists of names. Rafael Rivas-Lopez, 29, from El Salvador, was also responsible for guarding the hostage aliens and coordinating the smuggling fee payments with the relatives of the smuggled aliens.

Sources: Phoenix Police Department, Houston Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Hurricane Katrina: Scapegoating the White Guy

by Jim Kouri, CPP

I don't know if FEMA's Mike Brown is just another incompetent bureaucrat or the monster he's being portrayed in the news media. It just seems to me that he's being singled out for immense news coverage because he's a safe target. Mike Brown is a white guy.

Governor Blanco, a woman and minority, is obviously an inept -- perhaps dangerously
inept -- Louisiana leader. Her missteps before, during and after this disaster in New Orleans may arguably have cost lives. Also, the mayor of New Orleans, an African-American, looked more panic-stricken than some of the evacuees. He's obviously ill-prepared for a leadership role. And yet, he too is getting a pass. I'm not even going to discuss the lack of leadership on the part of the NOPD chief, who is by the way an African-American. These local officials seem to be of no interest to the mainstream news media.

When Senator Hillary Clinton made the rounds of the network morning shows, she proposed that a special commission investigate FEMA and the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. Not once did she mention an investigation was needed in order to review the actions of the Louisiana governor (a Democrat, by the way) or the New Orleans mayor (surprise! another Democrat). Nor did those intellectual giants of the mainstream news media ask Senator Clinton if the proposed commission should broaden it's scope to include state and local officials within the disaster zone.

And what happened to the millions of taxpayer dollars poured into reinforcing the New Orleans levees and the additional millions of taxpayer dollars poured into Louisiana for homeland security? The levees certainly weren't functioning properly. Nor were the first-responders, although I don't blame them. They depended on leadership that just did not exist. Where did the homeland security money go?

Talk radio, internet news services and the bloggers are all revealing the incompetence of Louisiana officials including the fact that they turned away Red Cross trucks enroute to the Superdrome and the convention center. The trucks contained food and water, but the Red Cross people say they were told not to make a delivery to two key locations because the Louisiana officials did not want evacuees to remain in those areas of New Orleans.

Another story uncovered by citizen-journalists is the fact that Governor Blanco refused to turn over command and control to the federal government when President Bush telephoned her. Governor Blanco argued -- and rightly so -- that she was the governor of Louisiana and therefore should be in complete control during the emergency. It wasn't until this empty-suit fell flat on her face that she decided to complain about the federal response and the Bush Administration. And why not? Heck, the mainstream media already hates the President. They are more than willing to denigrate the President. They even tried doing it with forged documents. Why not give them the opportunity to bring down Bush's poll numbers again? And the Democrat Party is always more than willing to slam Bush, his subordinates and his actions.

During President Bush's stay in the Oval Office, many of his staff have been the focus of vitriolic calls for their firing or resignation. Rumsfeld and Rove are the most recent. In fact, the intellectual giants in the Democrat Party went to the Library of Congress to research documents to see if there was some way to impeach Karl Rove during the invented scandal that he disclosed the name of an undercover CIA agent. Any first-year law student knows -- or should know -- that only presidents, vice presidents and judges are impeached. You don't impeach a President's chief of staff. Chief of Staff isn't even mentioned in the US Constitution. This constitutional fact escapes the Democrats and their propaganda tool, the mainstream media. Afterall, absence of knowledge usually occurs when hatred outweighs intellect.

Now President Bush's detractors want Mike Browns head on a platter. While news reporters delve into every aspect of Brown's past, we know almost nothing about Louisiana's governor or New Orleans' mayor. The other day, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the plastic surgeon's best friend, peered into the camera's (I think she was peering or perhaps it was just her latest facelift that caused it to look that way) and questioned Mike Brown's qualifications, but not once did she question the qualifications of local officials in-charge during the Katrina disaster.

I don't know if Mike Brown is guilty or not guilty of official missteps or misconduct or even gross negligence. Only the future will tell. What appears most suspicious is that the mainstream news media chose a white male to throw to the wolves, while overlooking the gross incompetence of a female governor and a black mayor. When I see and hear such things occur my "political-correctness alarm" goes off. It fits right into the conventional wisdom in our nation's newsrooms: White men are evil, woman and minorities are good. A simple mindset for the news media's simple minds.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Five Star General of Bloods Pleads Guilty

by Jim Kouri, CPP

The leader or "Five Star General" of a notorious Jersey City, NJ set of the notorious Bloods street gang pleaded guilty to murder conspiracy and other violent crimes, according to Jersey City police officials. The Bloods is a Los Angeles based organized crime gang that over the years has evolved into a sophisticated crime syndicate.

Tommy Terrell Thompson, 32, formerly of Jersey City, but in custody since his arrest in February 2004, admitted that he directed other members and associates of the Sex, Money, Murder set to commit acts of murder and assault and that he took part in one of the assaults himself. He also specifically admitted directing the murder of a Jersey City man whom Thompson believed was cooperating with cops against him and other gang members.

In addition, Thompson admitted ordering the assault of a female member of the gang because of his belief that she was associating with members of the rival Crips street gang.

The plea bargain with Thompson exposes him to a likely federal prison sentence of 18 years. US District Judge William G. Bassler, who took the plea, scheduled sentencing for Oct. 10. Thompson was returned to federal custody at the Passaic County Jail.

Thompson, a/k/a "Omega Red," a/k/a "Rel," a/k/a "Big Homey," a/k/a "Mega," admitted that he organized the Sex, Money, Murder set (a "set" is an equivalent of "family" in La Cosa Nostra) in the summer of 2002 by recruiting other individuals into the gang. The murder conspiracy plea stemmed from a December 2003 shooting that Thompson ordered after federal and state charges were lodged against him the preceding October. Thompson was a fugitive from these charges at the time of the murder conspiracy.

The victim of the attempted murder, a paraplegic, was shot twice at point-blank range in the face while sitting in a wheelchair on a Jersey City street. Surprisingly, he survived the ruthless attack.

In addition to Thompson's guilty plea, on Nov. 5, 2004, Charlie Hvasta, a/k/a "Buck," pleaded guilty in connection with that shooting, at the direction of Thompson. Hvasta pleaded guilty to attempted murder in aid of racketeering and illegal possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. Hvasta faces up to 10 years in federal prison on each charge when he is sentenced.

Sources: Jersey City Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Hurricane Katrina: Federal Law Enforcement Assists Local Cops

by Jim Kouri, CPP

While assisting local law enforcement in New Orleans during the Hurricane Katrina disaster, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Response Team have arrested and charged a New Orleans man with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

Wesley L. Bailey was arrested Monday by a four-member scout team conducting surveillance in the Algiers section of New Orleans. He is to be arraigned on the charges in Baton Rouge.

The ATF Special Response Team (SRT), conducting surveillance in an area where citizens complained of nightly shooting, witnessed gunfire coming from an apartment window as a rescue helicopter flew over the neighborhood. As the team responded to the location, they witnessed two individuals leave the building and overheard them talking about shooting at the helicopter. When approached, the two ran back into the building.

The SRT then surrounded the building and called on the occupants to come out, which they eventually did. Through an investigative interview, it was determined that Bailey was a convicted felon, and in possession of two firearms, a .22-caliber revolver and a .32-caliber revolver, as well as a box of 9mm ammunition. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms or ammunition.

ATF deployed two of its four SRTs to Louisiana to work with the New Orleans Police Department and the US Attorney's Office to address any gun violence or other violent crime in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The team is a highly trained tactical unit deployed during high-risk enforcement operations.

Besides the ATF, other law enforcement agencies participating in public order operations in New Orleans and other gulf coast locations are the Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Border Patrol, US Secret Service, Drug Enforcement Agency special operations units and others. Police officers from departments throughout the country are also in -- or heading to -- New Orleans and Biloxi. Over 300 commanders and officers from the New York Police Department volunteered to assist their brother officers in New Orleans. In addition, the NYPD sent 40 police cruisers and emergency unit vehicles to help NOPD officers.


K-9s Chip in During Disaster

As the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina enters its second week, search and rescue canines trained by the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (NDSDF) continue to be a vital resource in the search and rescue operations and insure that no victim is left behind.

Canines assigned to the FEMA California Task Forces are being moved from Texas to locations along the Gulf Coast, including New Orleans, LA, Biloxi, MS and Gulfport, MS. Along with their handlers, they will search for victims of the most destructive natural disaster in American history. Their most important task is to insure that no one alive remains within the wreckage as search and recovery crews begin the work of recovering the dead as well as restoring order.

NDSDF provided more canine search teams than any other organization in nation to the terrorist attacks on September 11th -- this country's worst man-made disaster and provided the same reassurance -- that no one was left behind. Coincidentally, this current search and rescue effort takes place during a time when most reflect upon that tragedy. Many of the search and rescue teams deployed to the Gulf Coast were on scene at 9/11.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Colombian Jailed for Scheme to Arm Terrorists

by Jim Kouri, CPP

A Colombian man, living in Tampa, FL, is on his way to serving 25 years in prison for attempting to illegally export arms to a Colombian terrorist organization.

Carlos Enrique Gamarra-Murillo, 54, pleaded guilty earlier this year to the charges. He was arrested by ICE agents following an undercover investigation into Gamarra-Murillo’s attempt to acquire arms for Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), a US-designated foreign terrorist organization in Colombia.

The case began in March 2003, when Gamarra-Murillo met with an ICE confidential informant in Colombia and said that he was interested in purchasing numerous firearms and other weapons and bringing them into Colombia for a client. Over the next year, the CI and ICE undercover agents met with Gamarra-Murillo to arrange the deal.

On April 1, 2004, Gamarra-Murillo met in Tampa with the CI and ICE undercover agents to finalize the $4 million deal for machine guns, grenade launchers and grenades, assault rifles, handguns and ammunition. Gamarra-Murillo told the ICE agents to deliver the munitions to an airstrip in Venezuela where members of FARC would receive the goods. He told the ICE agents that payment would be made at the airstrip, 40 percent in U.S. currency and 60 percent in cocaine.

During the negotiations, Gamarra-Murillo also told the ICE agents that he was interested in negotiating for Stinger missiles and Russian-made surface-to-air missiles in a future transaction. He was then arrested by ICE agents and taken into custody.

In an unrelated case, a California aircraft parts supplier pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in the District to illegally exporting $40,000 in military aircraft parts to China, including parts for F-4 Phantom fighters, F-5 Tiger fighters and Hawk missiles.

US Attorney Kenneth L. Wainstein said the company, Interaero Inc., knew it was dealing with a buyer from China and was aware that the buyer intended to sell the parts to Iran. Nevertheless, he said, Interaero shipped the parts without making any effort to obtain an export license.

Sources: Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Tampa, Florida Police Department, American Federation of Police, AmeriCop USA, Washington Times

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

A Death in Washington

by Jim Kouri, CPP

A Washington, DC woman received a mere 17 years of incarceration for torturing to death one-year-old Selena McDonald. Caroline Deforest pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter with aggravating circumstances and first degree cruelty to children.

According to the police investigation, the sadistic torturer and killer in the days preceding Monday, January 12, 2004, kicked, hit with both a clenched fist and open hand, and bit a one-year-old infant. This baby was beaten to death by her own caregiver. The defendant knew Selena McDonald was a particularly vulnerable victim due to her age and Deforest knew of her fragility. Yet that didn't sway her from her vicious attacks on the defenseless child

In March of 2003, when Selena McDonald was approximately three months of age, Deforest became Selena's sole caretaker and Selena remained in her sole care and custody until approximately 7:52 a.m., January 12, 2004, when members of the Metropolitan Police Department and the DC Fire Department responded to Deforest's home and found Selena McDonald dead. The baby's remains were observed to have multiple visible injuries to her face, head and body and she was in a soiled diaper.

Dr. Gertrude M. Juste, Deputy Medical Examiner, performed an autopsy on the infant and determined the cause of death due to be the result of complications of blunt impact trauma. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

The autopsy included the following diagnoses of Selena McDonald: 1) blunt impact to the head including subdural hemorrhage, subdural empyema, moderate brain edema and multiple patterned contusions and abrasions of scalp and face; 2) blunt impact of neck with scattered abrasions of posterior and anterior neck; 3) blunt impact of torso with patterned healing abrasions of the anterior torso, clusters of tiny reddish abrasions on the right and left anterior torso, clusters of superficial abrasions on the right posterior torso, internal injuries including healed fractures of 9th and 10th left ribs posteriorly and hemorrhage of the liver; 4) healing bite marks of the anterior torso; 5) infected rash of pubic and perineal areas as well as midline of buttock region with shallow lacerations; and 6) injuries to the extremities including healed and healing abrasions and contusions of both hands, thighs, legs and feet, patterned injuries consistent with bite marks on the left inner thigh right anterior thigh and posterior right leg. Without a doubt, Deforest mercilessly and repeatedly brutalized little Selena.

In announcing the sentence, the US Attorney commended the outstanding police work of Detectives Q Wallace and George Taylor of the Special Victims Unit of the Metropolitan Police Department. One can only wish that the US Attorney tried the case -- refusing a plea bargain -- and that Caroline Deforest could face life in a prison cell, at the very least.

Rest in peace, little Selena.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us   

Hurricane Katrina: First Responders and Large-Scale Crises

by Jim Kouri, CPP

As a result of the deadly and catastrophic events occurring in Louisiana and Mississippi, this appears to be a good time to look at what steps were taken by the Homeland Security Department prior to Hurricane Katrina.

The events of September 11, 2001, resulted in a greater focus on the role of first responders in carrying out the nation's emergency management efforts. The Department of Homeland Security is the primary federal entity responsible for ensuring that first responders, such as police, fire, emergency medical and public health personnel, have the capabilities needed to provide a coordinated, comprehensive response to any large-scale crisis.

In the last 4 years DHS has awarded $11.3 billion to state and local governments to enhance capabilities, primarily to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism. Presidential directives instruct DHS to develop a national all-hazards approach--preparing all sectors of society for any emergency event including terrorist attacks and natural or man-made disasters.

DHS has undertaken three major policy initiatives aimed at creating a national, all-hazards coordinated and comprehensive response to large-scale incidents: (1) a national response plan (what needs to be done); (2) a command and management process (how it needs to be done); and (3) a national preparedness goal (how well it should be done). The US Congress' General Accounting Office reviewed these policy initiatives and determined that each supports a national, all-hazards approach.

DHS has also developed plans to implement three related programs to enhance first responder capabilities: (1) to assess and report on the status of first responders' capabilities; (2) to prioritize national resource investments; and (3) to establish a national training and exercise program.

Implementing these programs will likely pose a number of challenges for DHS including integrating internal and external assessment approaches, assessing state and local risks in a national context to effectively prioritize investments, and establishing common training requirements for each first-responder discipline.

Because terrorist attacks share some common characteristics with natural and accidental disasters, 30 of DHS' 36 capabilities first responders need to support preparedness and response efforts are similar. GAO's analysis found that the baseline capabilities required for terrorist attacks and natural or accidental disasters are more similar for response and recovery and differ most for prevention.

Since terrorist attacks are planned, intentional acts, all of DHS' prevention capabilities focus on terrorist attacks, while almost all other baseline capabilities focus on all hazards. Legislation and presidential directives call for DHS to place special emphasis on preparedness for terrorism and DHS has directed that the majority of first responder grant funding be used to enhance first responder capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks. Nonetheless, grant funds can have all-hazards applications.

Sources: US Department of Homeland Security, General Accounting Office, National Security Institute, National Association of Chiefs of Police

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us
   

Four Terrorists Arrested in Terror Conspiracy

by Jim Kouri, CPP

[The following article is based on government reports received by the National Association of Chiefs of Police. NACOP represents over 14,000 police commanders, sheriffs and directors of security.]

Four men were indicted by a federal grand jury in Santa Ana California for their suspected terrorist plot to attack US military installations,   Israeli government facilities and Jewish synagogues in the Los Angeles area, according to the US Department of Justice.

The seditious conspiracy charged in the indictment, which also included nearly a dozen gas station robberies intended to raise money for the terrorist operation, was allegedly headed by an inmate at California State Prison-Sacramento. Prison inmate Kevin James founded a radical Islamic organization known as Jam'iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh, or JIS. Recruitment of terrorists in the conspiracy began in prison, according to the indictment. Upon being released from prison, defendant Levar Washington then allegedly recruited other co-conspirators to plot terrorist acts and commit armed robberies.

The six-count grand jury indictment charges leader Kevin James, 29, a US national, who allegedly founded JIS in 1997 while in prison; Levar Washington, 25, a US national;
Gregory Patterson, 21, a US national; and  Hammad Samana, 21, a lawful permanent US resident originally from Pakistan.

The indictment charges all four defendants with conspiracy to levy war against the United States government through terrorism and conspiracy to possess and discharge firearms in furtherance of crimes of violence. Three of the suspected terrorists -- Washington, Patterson and Samana -- are charged with conspiracy to kill members of the US government uniformed services and conspiracy to kill foreign officials. Washington and Patterson are further charged with interference with commerce by robbery and using and carrying a firearm in connection with a crime of violence.

"The indictment[s] allege[s] that these defendants turned their terrorist plans and actions against locations in their own country, targeting American military facilities, religious institutions, and other facilities right here in the United States," said Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales. 

The AG thanked the work of investigators at all levels of government. During a press conference, AG Gonzales intimated  that any further acts of violence arising from this dangerous conspiracy -- a conspiracy which included identification of target locations, procurement of weapons, firearms and physical training, recruitment efforts, and financing operations through armed robberies -- had been prevented as a result of these arrests.

Diligent work by the Torrance Police Department was the first step in uncovering and ultimately disrupting a terrorist plot that had the potential to cause significant bloodshed. The local police reported the results of their initial investigation to the FBI and from there all levels of law enforcement worked together to uncover and disrupt a plot that sought to do significant damage to the United States and the death of many people.

Also involved in the investigation were members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPD committed over 100 persons from their Counter Terrorism Bureau to assist in this terrorism investigation.

The indictment alleges that James recruited fellow prison inmates to join JIS and preached the duty of members to target enemies of Islam, or "infidels," including the US government and Jewish and non-Jewish supporters of Israel. James allegedly distributed a document in prison that justified the killing of "infidels," and made members take an oath not to talk about the existence of JIS. He also allegedly sought to establish groups or "cells" of JIS members outside of prison to carry out violent attacks against "perceived infidels," including the US government, the government of Israel and Jewish people.

Washington, also an inmate at the Sacramento prison, joined JIS in November 2004, and was paroled at the end of the month, according to the indictment. In December 2004, James allegedly instructed Washington to recruit five people to train in covert operations, acquire firearms with silencers, and find contacts with explosives expertise or learn to make bombs that could be activated from a distance.

The indictment alleges that beginning in about December 2004, Washington, Patterson and Samana targeted and conducted Internet research on and surveillance of US military facilities -- such as recruitment centers and military bases -- in the Los Angeles area, as part of their plot to murder US military personnel. In July 2005, Patterson and Samana allegedly used computers to research military targets in the Los Angeles area, while Samana drafted a document listing Israeli and US targets in Los Angeles. In addition to the US military targets, the co-conspirators specifically targeted Israeli and Jewish facilities in the Los Angeles area, including the Israeli Consulate, El Al (the national airline of Israel) and synagogues. They also allegedly engaged in firearms, martial arts and physical training in preparation for planned attacks.

The fledgling terrorist cell purchased weapons or tried to acquire weapons from illegal sources as part of their terrorist conspiracy. They also made efforts to raise money by robbing gas stations. Police reports indicate that 11 times beginning May 30, 2005, the defendants -- armed with shotguns -- robbed or attempted to rob gas stations in the several cities and towns in Southern California, including Los Angeles, Torrance, Playa Del Ray, Bellflower, Pico Rivera, Walnut, Orange, Playa Vista and Fullerton. Local cops allege that during the gas station robbery spree, Patterson updated James on the progress of the planned war of terrorism against the US government.

These terrorists face life sentences, according to prosecutors in the US Attorney's Office in Los Angeles.

{The following agencies assisted with this report submitted to the National Association of Chiefs of Police headquarters in Florida: Los Angeles Police Department; US Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the Torrance Police Department; the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; the Long Beach Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; US Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the Los Angeles Port Police; US Customs and Border Protection; the US Coast Guard Investigative Service; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and the US Environmental Protection Agency; Los Angeles District Attorney's Office, Bureau of Investigations; the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the California Department of Justice; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the US Air Force Office of Special Investigations; and the US Department of Defense. Other agencies providing resources to the investigation include the Federal Air Marshals, the Santa Monica Community College Police, the Beverly Hills Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Army Criminal Investigations Division, the US Army Office of Intelligence, the United States Marshals Service, the US Postal Inspection Service, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the Los Angeles Airport Police.}

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us





  

WMD Threats: Some Thugs Never Learn

by Jim Kouri, CPP

Roger Evans was sentenced to life in prison by US District Court judge in Panama City, Florida last month. Evans, already an inmate at a Florida state correctional facility, received the life sentence for mailing an anthrax threat letter in April 2004 to the office of the Clerk of the US District Court in Pensacola, Florida. The letter contained a substance later determined to be non-toxic.

In December 2004, Evans pled guilty to violating three federal statutes in connection with the anthrax threat: he threatened use of a weapon of mass destruction against property that is owned, leased, or used by the US government; he mailed threatening communications using the US Postal Service; and he assaulted, resisted, and impeded certain federal officers.

Now comes the bizarre part of the Roger Evans case: during sentencing it was revealed that during the course of the investigation and prosecution of Evans, he continued to send threatening communications to the court, to the federal prosecutor assigned to the case, and even to his own defense counsel.

In fact, during the week preceding sentencing, Evans sent what he claimed was a biological agent through the mail to the federal prosecutor, requiring an immediate response from the FBI and Hazardous Materials or HazMat personnel. The substance was again found to be non-toxic.

But that's not all. On the very day of his sentencing, Evan sent the federal prosecutor yet another communication threatening the prosecutor, the entire court and the his defense counsel, as well as their families. This time, the defendant claimed to have as many as four accomplishes outside of prison that would carry out the defendant’s WMD attacks.

Mr. Evans received life imprisonment on the charge related to threatened use of anthrax. This sentence, and his conviction under the new federal “terrorism," represents one of the first such convictions under this particular statute in the country. The defendant also received sentences of 120 months and 96 months imprisonment respectively on the other two charges. Evans received an enhancement to his sentence due to his actions qualifying as a serious violent felony.

Evans will serve the remainder of his state sentence in custody of the Florida Department of Corrections. His tentative release date is in June 2030 at which time he will be 76-years old. He will then be placed in custody of the US Bureau of Prisons for the remainder of his life. One can safely assume the corrections officers, supervisors and warden will begin receiving threats from Evans. It is often said that the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over and over again, each time expecting different results. In Roger Evans' case it appears to be an accurate description of insanity.

Source: US v. Evans, USDC, Northern District of Florida (2005)

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

Latin Kings Gang Leader, Lieutenants Nabbed in Brooklyn

by Jim Kouri, CPP

Eleven members of the dangerous and brutal Latin Kings Gang were nabbed by cops and charged with drug trafficking, robbery conspiracy, and credit card fraud. The highest-ranking member of the Latin Kings in New York State, Isaac Almanzar is among those charged including several of his lieutenants -- Pedro Medina, Jose Cruz, Benjamin Fugueroa and others.
 
FBI agents and New York City Police officers executed search warrants at four locations in Brooklyn controlled or used by the defendants - 179 Starr Street, 81 Central Avenue, 179 Jefferson Street, and 180 Jefferson Street - and seized over twenty thousand dollars in U.S. currency, two firearms, multiple fraudulent credit cards, and quantities of crack cocaine and marijuana packaged for resale.

The charges followed a twenty-one month joint FBI and NYPD investigation coordinated by the United States Attorney's Office aimed at dismantling a large-scale drug trafficking gang responsible for distributing up to $2,000 of crack cocaine per day in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. The prosecution is part of an ongoing initiative to eliminate violent street gangs that erode the quality of life in many of the district's neighborhoods.

Almanzar was the leader of the drug distribution organization and was recently promoted to First Crown of the Supreme Team, the Latin Kings management committee. As such, he's currently the highest-ranking member of the Latin Kings in New York State. He used this position to organize and oversee the distribution of narcotics, frequently employing other members of the Latin Kings to sell crack cocaine from numerous drug spots in Brooklyn.

One complaint charges two members of the Latin Kings with a violent robbery conspiracy during which they twice assaulted another member of the Latin Kings and stole approximately $4,700 in cash. A second complaint charges a member with credit card fraud based on his possession of credit card numbers and social security numbers belonging to others.

"Combating violent gangs and stopping the flow of illegal drugs is a priority of this Office," stated United States Attorney Roslynn Mauskopf.

"This case is the latest of several joint operations demonstrating our commitment to protecting New York neighborhoods from violent street gangs. For years, this Latin Kings crew controlled the drug trade in the area of Jefferson Street and Central and Irving Avenues in Brooklyn through fear and intimidation. With this prosecution we have ended their reign and taken another step toward returning one of our communities to its law-abiding residents."

If convicted of conspiring to distribute cocaine base, the defendants face a minimum of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison, a life term of supervised release, and a $4,000,000 fine. The defendants charged with robbery conspiracy, face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. The defendant charged with credit card fraud, faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

(Special thanks to the New York City Police Department for their assistance with this column.)

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

British Counterinsurgency Expert Arrested in US

by Jim Kouri, CPP

In a story resembling a Tom Clancy thriller, a British mercenary accused of conspiring to violate the Arms Export Control Act in connection with a scheme in 1991 to illegally export a US fighter jet intended for use in killing Pablo Escobar, the then-leader of Colombia’s Medellin drug cartel was arrested in Texas. According to US government officials, he was on his way to attend a security training class at Fort Bliss.

Federal agents arrested reputed British mercenary and counterinsurgency expert David Brian Tomkins, age 63, after he was intercepted at George Bush International Airport in Houston, Texas. Arriving on a flight from London, Tomkins was met by the agents and US Customs inspectors after they determined there was an outstanding Homeland Security Department warrant for his arrest in Miami.

Tomkins was traveling to the United States to attend survival training at Fort Bliss, Texas in order to obtain employment as a security official with a firm involved in reconstruction in Iraq. In April 1994, Tomkins had been indicted in the Southern District of Florida for conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act as a result of an investigation. He had fled the United States prior to the indictment, suspecting that he was under federal investigation.

Federal authorities claim the arrest of this individual removes a key player from the ranks of international arms dealers. One of the most important missions of the DHS is to put these individuals out of business and prevent them from trafficking in sensitive US weapons.

The investigation into Tomkins began in 1991 when ICE agents in Puerto Rico received word that Tomkins was attempting to buy a fighter jet for use in killing Pablo Escobar, the then-chief of the Medellin drug cartel. ICE agents launched an undercover probe and soon met with Tomkins in Miami to negotiate the sale of an A-37 “Dragonfly,” a Vietnam-era turbojet fighter aircraft often used in counterinsurgency efforts.

Federal law enforcement agents learned from an additional source that Tomkins was allegedly being paid $10 million by the rival Cali drug cartel to assassinate Escobar. In subsequent undercover meetings, Tomkins allegedly indicated that he was a mercenary and that he sought to buy the A-37 fighter aircraft to bomb a prison in Colombia that was housing Escobar.

Tomkins also allegedly discussed the need to purchase bombs for the A-37 and a Bell helicopter to survey the prison after the planned bombing to ensure that Escobar was dead. After an inspection of the fighter jet, Tompkins provided undercover ICE agents with $25,000 as a down payment for the aircraft in December 1991, according to the indictment.

Subsequently, Tompkins suddenly fled the country. He later called agents from London, telling them that he had received a phone call in which he was warned that he was the target of a federal sting. In April 1994, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida issued an indictment alleging that Tompkins had conspired to export an A-37 fighter jet without obtaining the required State Department export license, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com, AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us